Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
QUEENS, NEW YORK: Sophia Giraldo, 41, who was attacked by her estranged husband, Stephen Giraldo, 36, in front of her kids on December 27, 2022, remains in recovery as she suffered from "severe neurological damage," leading to coma.
Needless to say, she was unable to attend the October 6 sentencing of Stephen, who said, "Sophia, I forgive you for not respecting me as your pre-designational husband, I forgive you for not honoring me as a good and loving father. I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you," during his apology.
Pastor Charles Brooks, Sophia's father, reportedly said to the New York Post that their family was "appalled" by Stephen's remarks and that he "is manipulative, deceitful, self-absorbed."
Stephen Giraldo sentenced to 25 years for the attempted murder of Sophia Giraldo
Stephen Giraldo intentionally rammed into Sophia Giraldo with his Ford Explorer in the presence of their children inside the car. He then proceeded to lean over the kids to stab their mother through the window.
In September, Stephen pleaded guilty to the charges, and during his sentencing, Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky sentenced him to 25 years in prison, with five years post-release supervision.
He is also banned from contacting Sophia and their children.
After the victim's family read their emotional impact statements, Stephen delivered a supposed apology for his actions, which took an unexpected turn.
He stated, "To Sophia, I never would have thought that this would be our new normal. Please forgive me for this unspeakable, unfathomable, unimaginable hurt I inflicted upon you. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you in any way, shape, or form. I will always love you, you will always have a special place in my heart, and I pray for your recovery."
Stephen then proceeded to say his twisted "I forgive you" comments and apologized to their children, giving them "some helpful suggestions" about topics their new guardian should discuss with them over dinner, before being cut off by the judge.
Asking for forgiveness from his family and friends, the convict said, "I will do my best to earn and regain your trust of everybody here in the courtroom," before adding that he wanted to "recommend two books," leading to the judge interrupting him yet again.
The victim's father, Charles Brooks later stated, "Tell his wife, ‘I forgive you,’ and then have a whole list of … that’s characteristic of who he has been," as per the New York Post.
He added that the children are "doing better," along with that they're "resilient."
How did Stephen Giraldo attack Sophia Giraldo?
As seen in surveillance footage, Stephen Giraldo pulled up to Sophia Giraldo's home in a white Ford Explorer around 5.20 am the day of the tragic incident, to supposedly drop off their children, aged six, nine, and 11, before telling the kids to "keep your seatbelt(s) on" and hit the gas when Sophia came out, as per the prosecutors.
The car struck his estranged wife and hopped the curb, making it turn over to one side due to the impact.
"Giraldo crawled over his son in the front passenger seat and out of the vehicle’s window and then stabbed his wife with a knife," added the prosecutors.
Alongside "severe neurological damage," Sophia sustained broken leg bones and a stab wound through her liver because of the attack.
She was comatose as a result but has made a recovery since then. In August, she was taken off the ventilator and put on a "therapy bicycle."
"This is one of the most brutal cases we have prosecuted. To tell your children to ‘buckle up,’ purposefully hit their mother, and then climb over your son to continue your attack with a knife is unconscionable," read a statement from the prosecutors, as per The New York Post.
It added, "In holding the defendant accountable and securing a lengthy prison sentence, we hope we have achieved some measure of justice on behalf of the victim and her loved ones."
