Families of homicide victims fight to keep convicted killers in prison

BOSTON — Families of homicide victims fighting to keep convicted first-degree killers in prison may be winning a battle at the State House.

The families say they are being told a key senator is withdrawing support for his own bill that would give convicted killers a path to freedom.

"We can't stand for this. We are more important than they are. I'm more important. My son is more important than his killer," said Karren Fleet.

>>RELATED: Families fighting against eliminating 'no parole' sentences

Annette Presti said: "The Presti family has received justice from the judicial system, and now I'm reading this, and they are trying to take my justice away, and I am going to fight this because I am so opposed to it," said Annette Presti.

At the State House, families of murder victims privately meet with Sen. Joseph Boncore, one of two legislators who has filed a bill that would abolish life with no parole sentences for convicted first-degree killers, and replace with a guarantee of a parole hearing after 25 years.

Fleet's son, David Fleet, was murdered in 2004, his killer was sentenced to life no parole.

"If this ever passed, we would be the only state first and only without the death penalty or life without parole for first degree murderers . what precedent does that set for Massachusetts?" Fleet said.

>>RELATED: Bill would eliminate life without parole sentences for convicted killers

Annette and Peter Presti traveled from their Florida retirement home to make this meeting.

In 2004, their daughter and granddaughter was murdered in Woburn.

The Level 3 sex offender convicted is also serving life no parole.

"And this is a perpetrator who has two consecutive life terms, two consecutive life terms without parole plus 45 years for the rape of my daughter and you are willing to let him out in 25 years? And be able to be in front of a parole board? I don't think so," Presti said.

After an hour-long closed door meeting, the families emerged telling Boston 25 News that the senator told them he intends to send his own bill to study, meaning it won't pass.

"Boncore effectively said my fight is over, and I have succeeded," Fleet said.

"He didn't realize the homicide surivors position and now all of a sudden he is starting to see it," Presti said.

Both families say after their meetings at the State House, for the first time in a long time, they feel encouraged. But they added that this battle won't be over, until life no parole remains the maximum penalty for first-degree killers.

>>ALSO: Families of murder victims fighting bills that eliminate life no parole sentences

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