WASHINGTON 鈥� The mother of a University of Maryland student, who died months after being sucker punched outside a College Park bar is speaking out about a judge鈥檚 decision that will make it easier for the man who hit her son to get a job.
鈥淚 just think it鈥檚 a despicable decision,鈥� said Nicola Bridges of San Diego, California, who is the mother of 21-year-old Jack Godfrey.
Bridges is upset at Prince George鈥檚 County Circuit Court Judge Albert Northrop鈥檚 decision to vacate a conviction against the man who hit her son, which would allow the man to pursue a career in accounting.
鈥淢y feeling is, my son will never have a job, he鈥檒l never have a life, he鈥檒l never have a wife, he鈥檒l never have grandchildren,鈥� Bridges said.
In March 2013, 24-year-old Arasp Biparva, who was also a U. Md. student, punched Godfrey outside a College Park bar. Prosecutors said the hit, caused Godfrey to fall and hit his head on the roadway which resulted in serious injuries to the brain and skull.
Godfrey had mostly recovered from his injuries when in November of 2014 he died suddenly in his sleep. An autopsy found that Godfrey died from a seizure, head injuries and aseptic meningitis, which were a result of the 2013 incident.
Before Godfrey鈥檚 death, Biparva plead guilty to 2nd degree assault in October 2013. After Godfrey鈥檚 death, Biparva pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced in April. He received probation in both cases.
In May, Biparva鈥檚 Attorney Barry Helfand filed a motion asking the judge to grant probation before judgment, which would essentially make it appear as if the manslaughter conviction never happened. In court documents, Helfand said the conviction prevented Biparva from obtaining certifications he needed to become an accountant.
In September, Judge Northrop granted the motion, which gives Biparva the ability to not check the box about a criminal past, on application forms.
鈥淭his is something that we opposed because we felt that in this case, where you have someone who actually lost their life as a result of Mr. Biparva鈥檚 action, that the conviction should stay with him for the rest of his life,鈥� said John Erzen with the Prince George鈥檚 County State鈥檚 Attorney鈥檚 Office.
草莓传媒 reached out to Biparva鈥檚 attorneys but didn’t receive a response.
After his three years of probation in the manslaughter case is up, Biparva will then be able to apply to have his record completely expunged.
Bridges now runs a donation funded special needs activity center known as the in her son鈥檚 memory. She said she fears the judge鈥檚 decision sends the wrong message to young people.
鈥淭hey can be violent and they can potentially cause someone to die and that鈥檚 OK, it can disappear 鈥� and that鈥檚 not right,鈥� Bridges said.
