A drunken driver who killed two fourteen -year -old boys in 2023 was sentenced to 100 months to 25 years in prison on Friday.
Alandep Singh, 36, crashed into a car with four teenage players in the night of 3 May 2023, in which Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz were immediately killed.
Singh tried to flee the stage and hid in a waste container near a parking space in Long Island, New York, according to a press release from the office of the public prosecutor in Nassau County.
Body camera images of the police later revealed that Singh denied that he was driving the Dodge Ram that the teenagers killed.
The images also caught singh -telling officers: “So what?!” When asked if he had drunk.
'So what if I am [expletive] Drinking and driving … Maybe I did that, “he told the police. Singh was high on cocaine when he poured the young teenagers and had an alcohol content of the blood of 0.15, almost twice the legal limit.
The other teenage passenger and director were taken to the hospital and recovered from their injuries. Drew and Ethan were on the right side of the vehicle, an Alfa Romeo, and were killed by impact.
'Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz were clear and athletic 14-year-olds with their entire lives for them until this suspect, reportedly affected by both alcohol and cocaine, crashed his fast-moving pick-up in their car while they are in the wrong direction Driving and killing these two young men immediately, “said Justice Anne Donnelly officer at the time.
Amandepep Singh told the courtroom that he regretted his actions and said that he would never hurt a child 'intentionally'
Drew Hassenbein was a prodigy of tennis before he was killed by a drunken driver at the age of 14
Ethan Falkowitz was a tennis star before being killed in a car accident from 2023
“This catastrophic crash scene was one of the worst we have ever seen here on Long Island and the alleged reckless actions of this suspect have created a wrinkle effect in the Roslyn community.”
Singh was arrested and accused of several counts of worsened murder of vehicles and manslaughter of vehicles in the first degree.
He initially promised the charges guilty, but changed his plea in January. He was convicted a month later.
Families of the boys and a multitude of members of the community have packed the courtroom for the conviction.
The massive show of support required two overflow rooms, because nine people gave victim impact statements.
Gary Falkowitz, Ethan's father, said: “This was avoidable. The state failed my son.
'Nothing in life prepares you to lose a child. Ethan was filled with hope and optimism. He was the dream of every parent. '
“My son was one of one. He was so super special. So talented. The light of our family, “said Mitch Hassenbein, Drew's father said.
'What this man has committed is unthinkable, and he will get 25 years if we are lucky? He gave my son a death sentence and all of us a life sentence. '
Singh accelerated after the crash while he was intoxicated and high on cocaine
The two boys were killed in the crash, while the driver and other passenger were injured, but later survived
The two boys were immediately killed when Singh hit their vehicle at 75 km / h
“Instead of picking up my son at school, I had to pick him up at the mortuary, instead of seeing him using his tennis racket, I had to bury it with him,” Hassenbein added.
Drew's mother said to Singh: 'Your lack of regret is completely disgusting. I hate you. You destroyed my family. I was robbed of all the joy of life. '
Sikken could be heard everywhere in the courtroom, because the boys' families were forced to withstand the details of the horrible tragedy, CBS News reported.
'Why didn't you go home, you Turkey. You are a bad, villain. Are you sorry after you killed two beautiful guys? “Drew's grandfather shouted.
Zachary Sheena, 17, another victim in the crash that the car drove, Singh told that he was a coward and a murderer.
“This coward has sentenced me to a life of suffering. I am forced to experience that night again and again. Tennis gave me life. I don't know the next time I will touch another tennis racket, “he said.
Sheena, a senior senior and tennis team captain, asked the judge to give Singh the maximum punishment. Both younger brothers and sisters of the boys have also given the judge statements.
The Van Singh family appeared to support the conviction. He spoke for the first time in court to express his regret.
“This was all my fault. Losing a child is the greatest sorrow. I committed the big sin. If anyone died, I should have been, “said Singh.
Singh, a father of two himself and a husband, also said to the courtroom: 'I would never hurt a child intentionally and yet I did that. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for your loss. '
After the conviction, Donnelly said during a press conference that in comparable cases she would continue to insist on stronger penalties.
The public prosecutor explained that even if the actions of Singh had killed every passenger in the car, the punishment would not have changed.
“We need legislation that ensures that drivers such as Singh who make these disastrous choices have consequences that reflect the true destruction that they cause and keep them adequately responsible,” said Donnelly.
Mitch Hassenbein argued for the maximum punishment after Singh's actions caused the tragic death of his son
The families of the two teenage boys spoke with Singh's conviction to argue for the maximum punishment
Drew and Ethan were tennis stars and came home from a tennis tournament with their teammates when they were killed.
Drew was number one in the country for boys under the age of 12, while Ethan made the high school team as a starter in the eighth grade.
Jay Harris, the boys' tennis coach, told the local NBC branch, WNBC News, that they were best friends.
“They had the smartest future for them,” one of their friends told the outlet and added that they “were the friendliest people ever.”
“Although Drew was a nationally arranged boy player, nothing more meant for him than being part of the Roslyn tennis community and being with his friends,” read a GoFundme for the Hassenbein family.
Both Hassenbein and Falkowtiz families have set up foundations to honor their sons and their love for tennis.
The DailyMail.com reached the office of the public prosecutor of Nassau County and the lawyers of Singh for comment, but did not immediately hear again.
