Driver gets 45 years in crash which killed Buffalo Grove High student

Too little. Too late. Too false.

The remorse convicted murderer Ralph Lewis professed at his sentencing Wednesday for the 2006 car crash that killed 16-year-old Corey Diamond and seriously injured his friend Elliott Cellini swayed no one. Lewis' rambling pre-sentence statement describing his troubled past and declaring his contrition convinced neither the Diamond and Cellini families, nor the prosecutors, nor the judge who expressed doubts about Lewis' sincerity when he sentenced the 28-year-old Lewis to 45 years in prison.

"I'm not really sure I believe the defendant's remorse today is real," said Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta to a capacity courtroom that included a sizable contingent of Diamond and Cellini friends and family and four members of Lewis' family.

In July, a jury convicted Lewis of first-degree murder in the crash at Dundee and Schoenbeck roads in Wheeling. Lewis had used a phony driver's license to purchase merchandise at several stores, then sped away when a savvy Home Depot cashier spotted the fake license. Officers from three police departments testified to Lewis' erratic driving and excessive speed, which concluded when Lewis ran a red light and crashed into Cellini's white Ford Taurus.

"There are a lot of victims in this case," said Fecarotta, citing a criminal background that dates to 1993 and includes convictions for forgery, burglary, aggravated battery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, among other violations.

"Mr. Lewis has a history of victims in his life. This time he left Corey Diamond dead, his family destroyed and Mr. Cellini's life destroyed. "

Prosecutors and family members also noted Lewis' lack of penitence, calling him "unremorseful," "reckless," "cocky," "apathetic" and "disrespectful." Lewis' cousin Robert Scott, who took Lewis in during the early 1990s, explained that Lewis adopted a "hard exterior to keep from being victimized in jail."

Scott testified that Lewis had expressed remorse to his family, and as he returned to the gallery from the witness stand, Scott mouthed 'I am sorry' to the Diamond and Cellini families.

Lewis' aunt Jacqueline Parnell, who also expressed her condolences, stated that her nephew had written letters of apology to the families. In her closing statement requesting leniency, defense attorney Helen Tsimouris suggested Lewis "is not without redemption."

Assistant State's Attorney Karen Crothers disagreed. Calling Lewis a career criminal, she requested substantial jail time.

"The defendant set out to steal that day and steal he did, but what he stole cannot be measured," she said. "His indifference to the misery he inflicted was abundantly clear. His response to the verdict with a vulgar hand gesture spoke volumes to his clear and unwavering lack of remorse."

Fecarotta referred to the gesture that Lewis directed at the Diamonds and Cellinis after the verdict.

"I saw you give the finger to the families. I pretended I didn't see it for your protection," said the judge, adding he feared someone in the jam-packed courtroom might try to accost the defendant if the incident were mentioned.

Wednesday's proceedings began with defense attorney Tsimouris motioning for a new trial, which Fecarotta denied. The judge also heard supplemental motions Lewis prepared independent of his counsel.

In a long-winded, repetitive statement lasting more than 20 minutes, Lewis claimed public defenders Tsimouris and Calvin Aguilar provided ineffective counsel, failed to introduce key evidence to mitigate a first-degree murder verdict, and prevented him from testifying to refute the prosecution's portrayal of him.

In a second equally lengthy motion, Lewis claimed he was convicted under an unconstitutional statute. Fecarotta denied both motions.

Victim impact statements followed from Corey Diamond's parents, Melanie and Ed, and from Allyson Cellini and Elliott Cellini. Their emotional testimony so moved assistant public defender Calvin Aguilar that after the proceedings concluded, he extended his hand to Ed Diamond, saying, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"There is nothing that can ever prepare you for this," said Melanie Diamond, who spoke first and described hugging the lifeless body of her funny, compassionate son who had a "zest for life" and whose "most improved" awards testified to his drive and work ethic.

"Our family is forever incomplete," Diamond said. "We will always have to endure what should have been but will never be."

"I can no longer take refuge or find solace in my religion," said Ed Diamond, adding that his mind is never at peace. "Because of you, Ralph Lewis, the glorious sound of trumpets that used to make me sing with joy especially when Corey played, no longer brings any joy but intense sorrow."

Lewis sat expressionless throughout the testimony, which included Allyson Cellini describing how, after the crash, her son went from a coma to a nonresponsive vegetative state to relearning "every single thing as if he were a newborn."

"Only the most important element of Elliott's pre-crash personality remains and that is his gentle kindness and caring of others," she said. "I'm blessed that you didn't take that away, too."

Elliott Cellini spoke last.

"Your actions placed Brandon (Forshall, the third victim who sustained minor injuries in the crash) and myself in our own personal prisons, both physical and mental," said Cellini. "I've lost the memory of the last five years of my life at least. I know things only because I was told them. You took that away from me.

"My religion states I should forgive anyone's wrongdoing. I cannot do so toward you."

Before being sentenced, Lewis claimed the stage one last time to deny intending to kill anyone and ask for forgiveness for his "thoughtless acts."

Fecarotta didn't buy Lewis' claims.

"He acts out and apologizes, but he never takes responsibility," said Fecarotta. "This is about a person who didn't care. This is about the Ralph Lewis Show. Today the Ralph Lewis Show has ended."