Tonight the acquitted murderer 22 year old Darrington Lauriano is a free man for the first time in 5 years. On Monday a jury acquitted Lauriano of the January 2004 murder of Kareem “Butchie” Broaster. But after his acquittal on Monday, Lauriano still wasn’t free to go because of a pending charge of wounding. But all that changed today when he pled guilty to that charge and instead of sending him back to jail – Magistrate Albert Hoare fined him $500.
He was charged for wounding 31 year old Orlando Wade in March of this year. The two shared a cell and wade alleged that on the day of the incident he was in the shower when Lauriano pulled out 4 inch “bora” and stabbed him nine times. A doctor classified the injuries as wounding. The stabbing was reportedly a hit on Orlando Wade who is awaiting trial for the June 2008 murder of Sandhill resident Dorla Slusher Pitterson. Lauriano has to pay the $500 by June 20th or he’ll have to spend 5 months in jail.
Lauriano’s acquittal of the murder came after two trials. The first jury in 2006 was deadlocked. He was acquitted despite two caution statements which he claims were coerced.