Accused New York child killer and former cop, Michael Valva, could possibly take the stand this week at the Suffolk County court, in connection with the death of his 8-year-old son, Thomas Valva.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 43-year-old Michael Valva is currently on trial for the murder of his son Thomas, who froze to death in 2020 after being forced to sleep in an unheated garage in their Long Island garage. The temperatures on the night in question had plummeted to 19 degrees.
Valva’s then-fiancée, Angela Pollina, 45, is a co-defendant in the case. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to murder and child endangerment charges. Pollina’s trial has not yet started.
According to Patch, Valva’s lawyer, John LoTurco, said the defendant is scheduled to take the stand on Wednesday, “if he chooses to testify.”
The prosecution rested its case last week and the defense began calling witnesses to the stand Monday. LoTurco reportedly said that closing arguments could happen as early as this week, adding that he expected the judge’s denial of his motion to dismiss the charges.
“We expected Judge Condon to deny our motion at this stage of the proceedings, but we preserved our client’s future remedies if needed, and we will go forward with our defense, including final summations to the jury at the end of the trial.”
LoTurco told the court earlier this month that despite any allegations of neglect, Michael Valva never wanted his son to die and isn’t guilty of murder.
“Everyone needs to be focused on not the neglect, child endangerment, but rather the depraved murder charge. There is no evidence to show that Mr. Valva wanted his child to die.”
Prosecutors told the jury during opening statements that Thomas and his 10-year-old brother Anthony suffered years of abuse at the hands of their father, often arriving at school with bruises and scratching — and hungry.
“They were observed at school literally eating crumbs off the floor,” assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Laura Newcombe said.
Valva’s attorney laid the blame at Pollina’s feet, saying she constantly told him he was being too lenient with the boys and that Valva was desperate to make things work. He painted her as the wicked stepmother.
“You are making it too comfortable for them,” she allegedly told Valva, according to attorney Anthony La Pinta. “Let them be uncomfortable. That will teach them to control themselves.”
Valva, La Pinta said during his opening statement, “never ever thought that either of his boys could die from being in that garage,” WCBS reported.
When Valva arrived at the hospital to see his son in January 2020, he had no emotion, paramedic Erin Lambert previously testified.
“There were no tears. There was no emotion,” Lambert said, recalling when the suspect saw his son in a bed at the hospital.
“Somebody, a staff member came into the room and asked him if he needed a drink, a chair, to make a phone call. He turned and said, ‘No, I’ve been in more stressful situations.’”
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Thomas Valva/Handout]
Additional reporting by Ellen Killoran and KC Wildmoon
