The family of a Bronx grandmother run down by an NYPD cop can finally exhale.
A jury found ex-detective Kevin Spellman guilty of second-degree manslaughter Thursday for hitting and killing Albanian immigrant Drane Nikac in Kingsbridge.
The 66-year-old woman's family sobbed with grief and relief as the verdict was read following an emotional Bronx trial that spanned more than two months.
“My family and I are emotionally exhausted and grateful that the trial is over so that we no longer have to listen to testimony about my mother's awful ordeal,” daughter Dusta Juncaj said Thursday.
The jury found Spellman, 45, not guilty of the more serious charges of first-degree aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter after more than a week of deliberations.
The 22-year NYPD veteran stood expressionless in a gray suit and blue tie as his verdict was read Thursday. He left the Bronx courthouse with several cops in plainclothes, without answering questions from reporters.
Spellman struck Nikac about 6:40 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2009, at W. 232nd St. and Kingsbridge Ave., and the jury heard testimony that the cop's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit five hours afterward.
Witnesses said the off-duty cop ran a red light before the deadly crash and evidence in the trial included beer cans found in his car.
Rosemarie Arnold, a lawyer for the Nikac family, said her clients are satisfied with the verdict.
“Now they can exhale,” she said Thursday. “They understand this is a tragedy all around, not just for their family, but for the Spellman family as well.”
Spellman recently retired from the NYPD and now faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The charge he was convicted on didn't require the jury to find him guilty while driving drunk, said his lawyer, Peter Brill.
“We appreciate the hard work of the jury, but we think the result was wrong,” Brill said. “On the other hand, Kevin has waited three years to express his remorse.
“He wants the family to know how remorseful he is about what happened.”
Spellman is free on bail and will be sentenced Feb. 15.
By Daniel Beekman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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