Berwick Sentenced for Murder

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Created on Friday, 09 November 2012 19:02
Written by Joseph Peters

benberwickST. JOHNSBURY - On an emotional day in Caledonia County court, Benjamin Berwick was sentenced for the murder of his wife, Anna. Berwick received a suspended sentence of 23 years to life in prison; he'll only have to serve eighteen years of that sentence. He'll be on probation for the rest of his life. He is not allowed to contact with the victims family.

Berwick killed his wife almost three years ago by cutting her throat in the parking lot of the Green Mountain Mall in St. Johnsbury.

Anna's family members were at the Caledonia Court Friday for the emotional conclusion of the case.

"Harlan's mother, our sister will not see her son get his license, drive his first car, she won't be there to see her son graduate," said Anna's brother, John Conley, in the courtroom, "but I tell you, your honor, that I see Anna's face, cause Harlan's is in my home."

"I just wanna say that I'm very sorry," Berwick said, addressing the court. "Of course, if I could change what happened, I would, but I can't. I understand the pain I have caused and I only hope some day they will forgive me."

Despite the lengthy sentence, some of Anna's relatives expressed frustration with the sentence.

"First we were told, years ago when this happened, [that we were] looking at 35 years," Conley said. "Then they plea bargained it down. But like I said up there in the courtroom - there shouldn't be no plea bargaining in a murder trial."

When Berwick is up for release in 2030, he'll be 69 years old.