A Chicago man with a long criminal record was sentenced to 45 years in prison today for killing an 88-year-old widower who was on his way to reconnect with an old flame.
Kenneth Starr, 36, was found guilty earlier this year of felony murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking in the September 2008 death of Jacint Calderazzo near Midway Airport.
Before Judge James Obbish handed down the sentence, Starr apologized to Calderazzo's family.
"I am sorry … I'll never be able to say it enough," said Starr in a raspy voice. "Please take some solace in the fact that I did not mean it. It was an accident."
The victim's family stared back at Starr but showed no other reaction. After the hearing, Calderazzo's grandson, Ryan Dykes, 33, said the family was just relieved the process was over.
"We are happy more or less it's come to an end," said Dykes, who described his energetic, garrulous grandfather as his best friend. "It's been difficult."
Prosecutors said Calderazzo was on his way to pick up his fiance who was flying to Chicago to reconnect with Calderazzo after they had nearly married 60 years earlier.
After Calderazzo pulled into the parking lot of a Southwest Side Walgreens and his daughter, Carmine, went inside to buy gum, Starr approached the Buick, shoved him aside and climbed inside, prosecutors said.
Calderazzo tried to reach into the driver' side window to stop Starr from taking the car, but Starr sped backwards, running over Calderazzo, prosecutors said. Calderazzo, an aerial photographer during World War II who lived in Valparaiso, Ind., was later pronounced dead at a suburban hospital.
Starr has previous convictions for drugs, home invasion and aggravated battery.
"Mr. Starr has led a rather sad life," the judge said.
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