Jury Delivers Sentence In Cristy Ryno Case
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 12:56 pm
DALLAS -- A Dallas jury Thursday sentenced Irving handyman Brett Bednarek to 99 years in prison for sexually assaulting 3-year-old Cristy Ryno.
A day earlier, jurors found Bednarek guilty of the crime.
Bednarek's family and friends have insisted he is innocent.
During closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutor Robert Rogers told the jury that while Cristy could not tell them what had happened, her body could through DNA evidence.
"She didn't testify with words. You didn't hear from her mouth," Rogers said. "But she testified."
However, the defense maintained that another man, Steven Silversmith, was the real perpetrator.
"He's mister motive. He's mister opportunity and he's mister access, and that's a fact," Bednarek's lawyer said.
Tuesday, defense attorneys tried to focus on Silversmith, a former roommate of Ryno's mother, as the prime suspect.
A woman testified that while she was on a blind date with Silversmith, he confessed to murdering the toddler, but prosecutors questioned her credibility.
She testified she waited a week to report the confession because she was afraid for her life. Silversmith denied that he ever confessed to the murder.
Monday, Leticia Ryno told the jury about her relationship with the defendant. The often-teary mother said she never considered Bednarek a suspect in Cristy's murder, and that she had no knowledge of him targeting her children.
Ryno also admitted to partying and using drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, with the defendant.
A day earlier, jurors found Bednarek guilty of the crime.
Bednarek's family and friends have insisted he is innocent.
During closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutor Robert Rogers told the jury that while Cristy could not tell them what had happened, her body could through DNA evidence.
"She didn't testify with words. You didn't hear from her mouth," Rogers said. "But she testified."
However, the defense maintained that another man, Steven Silversmith, was the real perpetrator.
"He's mister motive. He's mister opportunity and he's mister access, and that's a fact," Bednarek's lawyer said.
Tuesday, defense attorneys tried to focus on Silversmith, a former roommate of Ryno's mother, as the prime suspect.
A woman testified that while she was on a blind date with Silversmith, he confessed to murdering the toddler, but prosecutors questioned her credibility.
She testified she waited a week to report the confession because she was afraid for her life. Silversmith denied that he ever confessed to the murder.
Monday, Leticia Ryno told the jury about her relationship with the defendant. The often-teary mother said she never considered Bednarek a suspect in Cristy's murder, and that she had no knowledge of him targeting her children.
Ryno also admitted to partying and using drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, with the defendant.