3/5/13 - Sentence was handed down this afternoon for the man convicted of killing his brother and sister-in-law in Oceola Township in 2008. Prosecutors say 66-year-old Jerome Kowalski killed his brother Richard and sister-in-law Brenda in 2008 during a drunken blackout. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and two felony weapons counts in January. He was sentenced by Judge Theresa Brennan today. Before the sentencing Michael Reilly, the son of Richard and Brenda Kowalski, addressed the court as allowed under the Crime Victimsâ Rights Act. He said the crime had devastated his entire family and asked for Kowalski to receive the worst punishment in the worst prison possible. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole. On that sentence, Brennan gave Kowalski credit for 1,034 days served since his arrest. For the weapons charges, Brennan sentenced Kowalski to two concurrent sentences of two years in prison, but that time has also already been served since his arrest. While addressing the court, Kowalski asserted that he was innocent and would stand before God with a clean conscience. Kowalskiâs sons, Jared and Jerome Jr., say the conviction was false and resulted from a failure of the justice system. Defense attorney Walter Piszczatowski assured the court that an appeal would be filed. After the sentencing, County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt said his office would be ready to face any appeal. (TD)
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