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Grillo gets 5 years probation for killing brother
by Trevor Davis | News Reporter
Former University student John Andrew Grillo was sentenced Friday to five years probation for stabbing and killing his brother a year and a half ago.
John Grillo, now 21, killed Paul Grillo during a fight at a Eugene house they shared two years ago.
On Nov. 7, 2005, the brothers, both University students, argued in the kitchen and the fight turned physical, according to court documents. John reached for a fillet knife and stabbed his brother in the heart. When police and medics arrived, Paul was dead.
John Grillo was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter, but earlier this month he entered a plea deal. He was sentenced on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. The plea deal allowed Grillo to avoid Measure 11 sentencing - a minimum of 6 years in prison with no possibility of a reduction - for second-degree manslaughter.
Lane County Circuit Court Judge Lyle Velure ordered Grillo to seek mental health treatment and serve 300 hours of community service. The judge also said Grillo could not attend classes at the University.
During the sentencing, John Grillo stared at the courtroom floor, expressionless, as his parents - the parents of both the men - sat behind him.
Joe Grillo and Mary Ordal, the parents of Paul and John, chose not to speak at the sentencing, but did write a letter to the judge urging him not to put their son in prison.
"Losing a child is the hardest thing any parent could face," they wrote. "Dealing with the cause of the death in this case makes this overwhelmingly tragic for our family and intensely difficult for each of us."
The brothers participated in Boy Scouts, sports and theater while growing up in Hillsboro, Ore., and never fought more than typical brothers do, the parents wrote. After John stabbed Paul in 2005, the parents launched their own investigation and discovered Paul was using drugs. The autopsy report revealed Paul had five controlled substances in his body at the time of his death.
John Grillo, now 21, killed Paul Grillo during a fight at a Eugene house they shared two years ago.
On Nov. 7, 2005, the brothers, both University students, argued in the kitchen and the fight turned physical, according to court documents. John reached for a fillet knife and stabbed his brother in the heart. When police and medics arrived, Paul was dead.
John Grillo was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter, but earlier this month he entered a plea deal. He was sentenced on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. The plea deal allowed Grillo to avoid Measure 11 sentencing - a minimum of 6 years in prison with no possibility of a reduction - for second-degree manslaughter.
Lane County Circuit Court Judge Lyle Velure ordered Grillo to seek mental health treatment and serve 300 hours of community service. The judge also said Grillo could not attend classes at the University.
During the sentencing, John Grillo stared at the courtroom floor, expressionless, as his parents - the parents of both the men - sat behind him.
Joe Grillo and Mary Ordal, the parents of Paul and John, chose not to speak at the sentencing, but did write a letter to the judge urging him not to put their son in prison.
"Losing a child is the hardest thing any parent could face," they wrote. "Dealing with the cause of the death in this case makes this overwhelmingly tragic for our family and intensely difficult for each of us."
The brothers participated in Boy Scouts, sports and theater while growing up in Hillsboro, Ore., and never fought more than typical brothers do, the parents wrote. After John stabbed Paul in 2005, the parents launched their own investigation and discovered Paul was using drugs. The autopsy report revealed Paul had five controlled substances in his body at the time of his death.
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