DEDHAM, Mass. — A state trooper has been sentenced to four months in jail for his role in a drunk driving crash that killed a mother and daughter.
FOX25's John Monahan spoke exclusively with the victim's brother, who said he feels justice has not been served here.
Prosecutors had asked for a maximum five-year sentence, and the judge imposed two years but the state trooper will only serve 120 days in jail.
"We just wanted to see justice and we don't think we saw justice,” Tim Brightman said.
Brightman told FOX25 he’s frustrated that no one is at fault for the fatal head on collision that left his sister, Susan Macchi, and her daughter, Juliet, dead.
"He was at fault for something, speed and alcohol alone,” Brightman said.
John Basler was not on duty the night of Sept. 22, 2013, and was found guilty of driving drunk - with a .19 blood alcohol level. He was also found guilty of driving recklessly when his car hit Macchi's. Susan died instantly, Juliet at the hospital.
Brightman said the two were inseparable. They had been at a Red Sox game the night of the crash
Basler’s trial lasted five days before he was found guilty of motor vehicle manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide.
"It boggles our minds that it is not a contributing factor to the end result of their death,” Brightman said.
It's that question called causality in legal terms that frustrates Macchi’s family.
"We don't have any revengeful feelings for him. If there's any pain right now it's with the justice system,” Brightman said.
He said he just wants his sister to rest in peace, and on the way home from the court house he stopped at the scene of the fatal crash to say goodbye.
A state police accident reconstruction team says Macchi also crossed the double yellow line at the time of the crash. The judge who decided the sentence said that while Basler did not cause the accident, he contributed to the death of Susan and Juliet because of his choice to drive drunk and recklessly.