20-year sentence for Perth Amboy man who killed his wife in view of his children
Wellington Leonardo was sentenced to a 20 year sentence however he'll be up for parole in just a few years.
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A Perth Amboy man was handed a 20-year prison sentence by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Andrea Carter on Wednesday.
Wellington Leonardo was found guilty for the stabbing death of wife Rosanna Rodriguez inside their Perth Amboy home in March.
Jurors at his trial rejected a murder charge and chose to convict him of passion-provocation manslaughter, along with weapons offenses and child endangerment.
The endangerment charge came about because the couple's four daughters were in their Perth Amboy home at the time Leonardo attacked Rodriguez.
RELATED: Perth Amboy man convicted in wife’s fatal stabbing as children watched
Jurors at trial heard 13-year-old Genolese calling a 911 operator for help while watching her mother be attacked.
Before sentenced, Leonardo Wellington expressed regret for stabbing his wife Rosanna Rodriguez while apologizing to her family.
“I miss her every minute every second every hour of the day. Not a single day goes by that I wish I could go back and change what happened," said Leonardo.
However, the victim's sisters stated in court that they don't believe he is remorseful.
“There is an emptiness in our family that can never be filled. Her daughters must grow up visiting their mother’s grave instead of hearing her voice," said sister Rosalia Rodriguez.
“They will have to grieve her longer than they got to be her daughter," said sister Lisbeth Rodriguez.
Leonardo will be eligible for parole in a few years.
Judge Carter said Leonardo will not be allowed contact with his daughters unless they choose to see him.
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