New Bedford Man Who Strangled Pregnant Girlfriend Sentenced to Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
May 20, 2016
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that a 29-year-old New Bedford man who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend on a busy highway in 2014 was sentenced to serve four to five years in state prison yesterday in Fall River Superior Court.
Luis Cirino was convicted of strangulation, intimidation and aggravated assault and battery after a three-day jury trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Cahill and Kyle McPherson. After his conviction. Judge E. Susan Garsh sentenced the defendant to serve four to five years in state prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation.
On December 4, 2014 the Massachusetts State Police received a 911 call from an ambulance driver, stating that there was a car pulled over on the grass of route 24 southbound near Exit 8, and two people were fighting. Troopers immediately responded to the area and heard a female screaming “get the f#%k away from me, stop hitting me, get away, get away.” The female victim was hysterical and half nude Her buttocks was bare, covered in grass, mud and red blotches. Her neck had red marks consistent with strangulation and part of her hair was ripped out.
The victim told police that she and the defendant were driving home, when a verbal argument started. During the argument the defendant tried to push her out of the car, and during the struggle, the door handle and glove box were broken. The victim eventually got the car to stop by shaking the gear shift. When the defendant pulled the car over, she tried to run away. At this point the defendant grabbed her and threw her to the ground. She was trying to dial 911, but the defendant was holding her down, pulling her hair and strangling. He eventually got the phone away from the victim and threw it in the trunk. After the defendant put the phone in the trunk, he continued assaulting her and was screaming obscenities at her. While screaming, the defendant also ripped her shirt off and tore her pants.
“I’m very pleased with the jury’s verdict holding this defendant accountable for his outrageous conduct. This defendant assaulted and strangled his pregnant girlfriend on the shoulder of Route 24 as cars were driving by,” said District Attorney Quinn. “This inhumane behavior cannot be tolerated. I am very satisfied the judge imposed a significant state prison sentence in this case.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell