"You Are a Coward": Victims' Families Confront Charles Cullen at His Sentencing, 2006

Name: "You Are a Coward": Victims' Families Confront Charles Cullen at His Sentencing, 2006
Uploaded: 2015-07-30T00:00:00Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: AP footage of Charles Cullen's 2006 sentencing in Somerset County, New Jersey, where a victim's son and a victim's sister confronted him in court before the judge imposed consecutive life terms.

AP footage of Charles Cullen's 2006 sentencing in Somerset County, New Jersey, where a victim's son and a victim's sister confronted him in court before the judge imposed consecutive life terms.

Subject: Charles Cullen
Recorded: about March 2, 2006
Runtime: 2:04

Content warning: Concerns the murders of hospital patients; relatives speak of their loss. No graphic detail.

The Interview

This is not an interview, and Charles Cullen does not speak in it. It is a two-minute Associated Press package from his sentencing in Somerset County, New Jersey, on March 2, 2006. In pool footage from the courtroom, the son of one of his victims and the sister of another address him directly, and Judge Paul Armstrong pronounces one of the sentences. Outside, a relative and the mother of a victim speak briefly.

Historical Context

Cullen's nursing career, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, began in 1987; he was fired from Somerset Medical Center in October 2003 and arrested in December 2003. He killed patients with lethal doses of medication, most often the heart drug digoxin. He has claimed to have killed up to 40 people.

Circumstances

According to AP, about 60 relatives attended the hearing, the first chance for victims' families to confront Cullen in court. He sat quietly with his eyes closed as they spoke, which frustrated some of them, and did not explain why he had committed the crimes. A separate sentencing in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, followed on March 10, 2006.

What the Recording Covers

The son of a victim tells Cullen that one day his life will end, asks what legacy he will leave, and says he has ruined many lives and "bloodied and stained the medical profession." A prosecutor is heard beginning to address a count. Melissa Strenko, whose brother Michael Strenko was killed, says she still cannot comprehend that a registered nurse took her brother's life, calls Cullen "a coward", and says he cannot look her in the eye. Judge Armstrong then sentences Cullen to two consecutive life sentences under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, with about 127 and a half years of parole ineligibility; this is one pronouncement within the hearing, not the whole sentence. Outside, a relative says Cullen cares only about himself and his own children, and Mary Strenko, Michael's mother, says, "He finally can rest in peace."

What Makes the Recording Significant

The clip preserves relatives' words to Cullen in court on the day they first faced him, and the judge's pronouncement of sentence, while Cullen himself stayed silent.

Archival Importance

The footage is from the Associated Press's own archive.

Important Caveats

Cullen is not heard. Sources disagree on the total sentence imposed at this hearing: AP's storyline says 11 consecutive life terms, while Wikipedia gives 18 New Jersey life terms with no parole eligibility until June 10, 2403; the page should not state a total without a court source. The two life sentences heard in the clip are one part of the sentence. Cullen's widely reported outburst ("Your Honor, you need to step down"), after which he was gagged, took place at the Lehigh County hearing on March 10, 2006, not at this one. The son of a victim is named by AP as "John Shanaer"; the victim list has John J. Shanagher, so the spelling is not settled and the page should describe him as a victim's son unless confirmed. The prosecutor is not named.

Son Of A Victim: One day, without you even knowing it, your life will end. And what legacy will you have left behind, sir? A serial murderer, serial killer. You ruined the lives of your family, your children, and many people in this courtroom. You've bloodied and stained the medical profession. Absolutely abhorrent what you did, sir.

Prosecutor: Uh, Your Honor, count four charges the defendant with the murder of Jack.

Melissa Strenko: And I still can't really comprehend it. A registered nurse who was supposed to be a caretaker took the life of my brother for his own personal, selfish and twisted gain. Charles Cullen, you are a coward. I am very brave for standing here today, but you yet cannot even look me in the eye and face me.

Judge Paul Armstrong: ...Cullen, we are gathered here today essentially to hear from, uh, the families. You are hereby sentenced to New Jersey State Prison to two consecutive life sentences, which, with the application of the No Early Release Act, that is N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, mandates a period of 85 percent, or approximately 127 and a half years, of parole ineligibility.

Relative Of A Victim: No, all he cares [unclear: "about himself" / "about is himself"] and his own children. He doesn't care what he did to our children.

Mary Strenko: He finally can rest in peace.

Speaker Uncertain: [unclear: "That's the peace." (Whisper only; not in the captions)] [02:01 to 02:04: no further speech; clip ends.] ---