RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont man serving a 45-years-to-life prison sentence for the killing of a tattoo shop owner had his minimum sentence reduced by 15 years, according to this attorney.
Eric Marallo, 40, of Rutland, was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1997 stabbing death of Dwayne Bernier in the Dragon’s Leyr Tattoo Emporium in East Wallingford. He was sentenced in 2001. Marallo has been in prison since his 1998 arrest.
A judge imposed a sentence with a minimum sentence of 30 years on Wednesday, the Rutland Herald reported. The decision had the support of Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy and Marallo’s attorney Paul Volk.
In a petition filed in civil court, Marallo had argued that his trial lawyer failed to make arguments that could have helped his case.
(Copyright (c) 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)