Mother forgives son's killer in Boston courtroom

Isaura Mendes, who has become an anti-violence activist, held up a photo of her son dying as she gave her victim impact statement today.

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

The mother of a Dorchester man whose 1995 stabbing death set off a civil war inside Boston's Cape Verdean community today forgave her son's killer as he was being sentenced in Suffolk Superior Court.

The killer, Arnaldo "Nardo" Lopes, was convicted of manslaughter on Thursday, a verdict that came nearly 13 years after he fled Boston and eventually started a new life under an alias outside Baltimore where he got married and bought a house. He was tracked down by Boston police in 2007.

In court today, Isaura Mendes delivered a victim impact statement just before Superior Court Judge Linda Giles imposed the sentence. Mendes, who lost another son to murder, has become an anti-violence activist since the death of her oldest son, Bobby Mendes.

Mendes said she knew Lopes, whom she called "Nardu," since he was a child. "I wish you luck, Nardu. I have asked God to protect you in jail,'' she said in court. "I forgive you for everything you've done. I have to forgive him so I can forgive myself because God forgives every day of our lives.''

Mendes added, "We can't continue to have revenge and to go out there and kill each other.''

Lopes, who is now 30, took the stand and testified that he was attacked by relatives of Mendes with pieces of wood and that Mendes rushed him with what he thought was a piece of metal, but was, in fact, a bicycle. Terrified, he said, he lashed out with a folding knife.

In court today, Lopes did not speak but listened to Isaura Mendes, her daughter, and her surviving son talk about Mendes, who was 23 years old when the confrontation took place on Wendover Street in Dorchester. Prosecution witnesses testified that Lopes had been falsely accusing Mendes's relatives of "snitching" to police.

Mendes's death triggered a civil war inside Boston's Cape Verdean community that Boston law enforcement officials estimate has led to some two dozen murders and dozens of nonfatal shootings in the years since.

"It's been 13 years of uncertainty, not knowing what was coming at my family,'' said Pompilio (Steve) Mendes in court. "Only God knows what we have endured.''

Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Dennis Collins asked for a 14- to 16-year sentence, saying Lopes had no remorse for his actions and that his decision to avoid prosecution weakened the government's case against him when it finally went to trial.

Lopes's attorney, Kevin J. Reddington, called for a three- to five-year sentence, saying that Mendes was beloved by his family but was a man with a violent temper who was the aggressor at the time he was stabbed. He also said Lopes should be credited for his exemplary life on the run.

Giles said both recommendations were too extreme. She ordered Lopes to serve eight to 12 years, with credit for 518 days he has been jailed awaiting trial.

"It is my heartfelt desire that in this case, justice may have been delayed but is not denied to either side,'' Giles said from the bench.

Lopes's mother, Maria, and other relatives were in court, but declined to talk after sentencing.

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