Owner Of Gun Used In Sean Collier Murder Released On Time Served
BOSTON (CBS) — For the first time in 17 months, Stephen Silva is walking out a free man, back into society.
"I want the public to know I'm human, everyone makes mistakes but I can change," Silva said.
A judge sentenced him to time already served Tuesday, 17 months, for giving his friend Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the gun used to kill MIT officer MIT police Officer Sean Collier, something he now says he regrets.
Silva says, "I had no idea Tsarnaev's intentions with the firearm, I apologize to any people or families that I caused harm to, I am deeply sorry for that."
"It's a horrible tragedy what happened that day, and certainly, there's no comfort for the families here today, I can tell you that," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said.
In court, Silva pleaded with the Judge and begged for forgiveness, saying to him "I was young and dumb" and "I deeply regret my poor decisions."
But once outside, even more regrets. "I definitely would like to give my deepest condolences to Collier family," Silva said. "I am very upset the firearm was used to kill him."
His older brother is standing by him, saying he will turn his life around. And that is something Silva promises as well.
Silva says "No more drug dealing for sure and just help out the needy."
Prosecutors were only asking for about four more months on his sentence. They agreed he was very important to the Tsarnaev trial.
"We'd all like to see him held to a greater punishment but hopefully he learned his lesson," said Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans.
The Judge told Silva, he hopes he never sees him again. Silva says his first order of business is to see family and go back to school and get a college degree.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
WBZ-TV's Kate Merrill and Louisa Moller contributed to this report.
