A former city official was sentenced to 25 years for the sexual torture of his wife who tearfully told the court he made her “a caged bird without keys.” Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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“Now I’m free,” the woman told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Laura Ward during Tuesday’s sentencing.
Her husband, Laurence Harvey, was convicted of aggravated sex abuse, assault and other charges – but insisted he is completely innocent.
“None of these crimes transpired. They are all 100% fabricated,” he said in a grandiose, remorseless rant.
“I stand before this court today as the epitome of inequality and injustice in our city, in our state and in our country,” he went on.
“I have no – I repeat – no shame in my heart, because I am not guilty.”
A $165,000-a-year educrat responsible for support staff in 300 schools, Harvey was acquitted of rape but convicted of a dozen other counts for a 2010 sex attack.
The victim was tied up with duct tape as he brutalized her with a screwdriver – and prosecutors presented photographic evidence.
At the sentencing, the 27-year-old woman described for the court how Harvey kept her under his control – watching her every move with cameras in the home, refusing to let her go out without permission.
“I was isolated from the world,” she said. “I lost my voice.”
Sobbing through much of her statement, she said when she was last attacked, she thought she would die and never see her sons again.
“I just want to be able to raise my kids without fear,” she said.
“I want to be able to take my kids to the park without having to worry. I want to have peace of mind and be able to die when it is my time.”
