Man who beat daughter to death out after 17 years

[Darth Wong]

Argh

NYC Child Killer Released After 17 Years

PINE CITY, N.Y. (AP) - Infamous child killer Joel Steinberg was released from prison Wednesday after nearly 17 years behind bars for the 1987 beating death of his 6-year-old adopted daughter.

The former lawyer, now 63, served two-thirds of the maximum 25-year manslaughter sentence. He has continued to deny responsibility for the girl's death.

Steinberg left the upstate prison with $104 in earnings from his inmate account and was picked up in a limousine by defense attorney Darnay Hoffmann.

Lisa Steinberg died in November 1987, three days after a vicious beating in the Greenwich Village apartment where she lived with Steinberg and his former lover, Hedda Nussbaum.

Nussbaum called police after finding the 6-year-old naked, bruised and not breathing. Nussbaum, initially a co-defendant, herself had a split lip, broken ribs, a broken nose and a fractured jaw she said were inflicted by Steinberg.

According to Nussbaum's testimony, Steinberg struck Lisa for staring at him, then ignored her injuries and smoked cocaine.

Nussbaum, 59, who said she would flee New York rather than face Steinberg again, quit her job Friday at My Sister's Place, a domestic violence center in White Plains, Executive Director Julie Domonkos said Wednesday.

Hoffmann has said he offered Steinberg a free apartment and a $250-a-week job with a local cable television show. Steinberg will have to make regular visits to a parole officer through October 2012. Now disbarred, he worked in prison as a paralegal.

And why is this "Hoffman" character trying to help this child-killer scumfuck out now?

[Phil Skayhan]

I don't know. By all accounts he is a media hound. Perhaps it was the only way to ensure that his name would appear in the papers; there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Hoffmann is involved in the Jon Benet case as well. He represents the Ramsey's former cleaning woman (his civil suit was dismissed). But the fact that he's involved in two high profile child murder cases is disturbing to say the least.

He was alsoBernie Getz's lawyer in the civil suit (he lost to the tune of $45 M).

His wife is also the former "Mayflower Madam".

Interesting guy, huh?

I think you'll enjoy this. It's a transcript of an exchange that occured between Hoffmann and the lawyer representing the Ramsey's during a deposition (taken from here)

MR. HOFFMAN: You know what normally happens in depositions?

MR. WOOD: Darnay, we don't need to hear that. I've been taking depositions for 25 years. You haven't taken depositions -- I bet you haven't taken five depositions in your whole life.

MR. HOFFMAN: Hey, Lin, given the fact that you've never tried a libel case in
front of a jury --

11 MR. WOOD: Darnay Hoffman, let me tell you something -- Darnay, you've never -- the only case you ever tried you got hit for $45 million when Bernie Getz was found guilty for a crime he walked from in a criminal case. Listen, I have tried cases for 25 years. I've tried more cases than you could count in your sleep, big boy.

MR. HOFFMAN: -- your first libel case, okay.

MR. WOOD: Darnay, I don't have to try a libel case to know how to try a case, but after listening to Fleet White's deposition it was obvious to me that you don't know how to take a deposition.

MR. HOFFMAN: That's okay.

MR. WOOD: Why don't you tell us how many depositions you've taken in your illustrious career?

MR. HOFFMAN: I've taken plenty.

MR. WOOD: I bet you haven't taken 25.

MR. HOFFMAN: Can I tell you something? I'm the only --

MR. WOOD: I've tried more cases than you've taken depositions. So don't lecture me.

MR. HOFFMAN: Hey, I'm the only man on the planet that's taken Patsy Ramsey's deposition, and plenty have tried, so don't --

MR. WOOD: Let me tell you something, and it was a joke. You didn't know
what you were doing.

MR. HOFFMAN: I hope that's what you believe because I hope you prepare your trial case accordingly, underestimating me.

MR. WOOD: You're not going to see a trial in this case. You're going to get
booted on summary judgment just like you got booted out in Linda Hoffman Pugh's criminal case.

MR. HOFFMAN: Sorry, you're wrong. I'm sorry, you're wrong. When you went --

MR. WOOD: I'm sure you're 100 percent certain like this guy sitting across the table is.

MR. HOFFMAN: If I was supposed to be out of here, I would have been out on that motion to dismiss, but you guys --

MR. WOOD: You got by that motion to dismiss by the thinnest of threads, only because you were willing to plead anything, despite the fact that you can't prove it.

MR. HOFFMAN: And the judge paid me the complement of actually quoting extensively from my brief.

MR. WOOD: I don't think the judge paid you any complements.

MR. HOFFMAN: Hey, I'm here, and all I can tell you --

MR. WOOD: You're here and you haven't even bought the deposition --

MR. HOFFMAN: And you guys couldn't do what 95 percent of the lawyers in
America --

MR. WOOD: You're so proud of Patsy Ramsey's deposition, you haven't even bothered to pay for it. You haven't even paid the court reporter for taking it down yet.

MR. HOFFMAN: Come on, who cares --

MR. WOOD: You haven't even paid the court reporter for taking down Patsy Ramsey's deposition.

MR. HOFFMAN: All right, so what?

MR. WOOD: You never got a copy of it. I thought you were proud of it.

MR. HOFFMAN: So what's your problem?

MR. WOOD: You don't have the money to pay for it. It's a frivolous lawsuit filed by a frivolous lawyer and you don't even have the money to pay to come down and sit with your own deposition witness. You never even met
your own client.

MR. HOFFMAN: Hey, Lin, don't talk to me about frivolity and the fact that I had to go to an expert because your daughter had a horse show that you had to attend and you couldn't be a real lawyer over a weekend, you
actually had to twist everything into God knows what in order to be able to --

MR. WOOD: I just wanted to make damned sure that I would be there in Nebraska to shred Robert Stratbucker.

MR. HOFFMAN: -- your family outings --

MR. WOOD: I'm going to eat him alive. Be there. Be there, okay. Guess
what? I'm going to be at my daughter's horse show and I'm also going to be in Omaha, Nebraska to rip Stratbucker a new rear end, and I bet you what, you aren't going to be there. You ain't going to bother to be there, neither is Evan Altman, because you don't have the money and you're not willing to spend the money on this frivolous case. You got that? I'll see you in Omaha. Are you going8 to be there or are you going to show up by
telephone?

MR. HOFFMAN: How can I not miss this invitation to be in Omaha? Okay?

MR. WOOD: You be there. You be there. I bet you a thousand dollars you won't be there. Want to bet?

MR. HOFFMAN: Lin --

MR. WOOD: Because you're afraid to fly.

MR. HOFFMAN: -- I would never, never bet you, you know better than that.

MR. WOOD: You're afraid to fly, aren't you? That's what you told Susan Jamison.

MR. HOFFMAN: I liked the AirTran to Atlanta, I told you that when I got there.

MR. WOOD: It looked like you were scared to death.

MR. HOFFMAN: Only of you, Lin. You frighten me.

MR. WOOD: Well, that may be the only smart damned thing you've said since I laid eyes on you the first time. All right, I've vented enough. All I'm saying is this: I don't intend to sit here and listen to you lecture me one damned second about how to take a deposition. I know more about taking
depositions on the thumbnail of my right thumb than you'll ever learn in your damn life. Do we understand each other?

MR. HOFFMAN: Lin, I'll just have to take your word on that one.

MR. WOOD: You can take the word of anybody that's ever had the opportunity to go up against me in a courtroom. I'll talk to people you've -- if we can find somebody.

MR. HOFFMAN: Lin, this sounds like rank speculation on your part. Just drop it.

MR. WOOD: Let me tell you something, if I am lucky enough, you will have
your day with me, sir.

MR. HOFFMAN: Oh, I hope so, and I hope --

MR. WOOD: And it will be the pleasure of my career when I take you down, and that day may yet come because you still run your mouth to the media so much that you're going to get yourself sued eventually, you're going to get your experts sued eventually, so you just keep the business coming, Darnay. It's really good for my pocketbook. I'm taking a recess.

MR. HOFFMAN: I know in this case that the Ramseys aren't paying a penny, the insurance company is paying you finally, okay, which is nice --

MR. WOOD: Hey, I made more money handling the Ramsey case than you've made in your whole damn career practicing law, Darnay.

MR. HOFFMAN: -- instead of settling for chump change, which you've done in all these other cases, you're actually getting paid a decent --

MR. WOOD: I've made more money in the Ramsey case than you've made in your entire career as a lawyer, you want to bet on that?

MR. HOFFMAN: You mean you've made more than a hundred dollars?

MR. WOOD: Yes, I have made for than a hundred dollars, Darnay.

MR. HOFFMAN: -- in this case. Well, good.

MR. WOOD: I'd just like to know the poor person that paid you the hundred
dollars. Maybe we'd have a good legal malpractice claim.

[Sea Skimmer]

More then why he's getting out or why anyone would help him (publicity is all it takes), I'd like to know how he got away with a sentence to manslaughter in the first place.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Since when do manslaughter sentences have 25 year sentences? That's something I'd expect for first degree murders.

[sketerpot]

Since when do manslaughter sentences have 25 year sentences? That's something I'd expect for first degree murders.

That's the maximum sentence. Most people don't get the maximum sentence, but it is theoretically possible.

[Wicked Pilot]

I would venture a guess that he's getting out early because the prison needs room for all those horrible people who smoke pot in their basement.

[Aaron]

Steinberg left the upstate prison with $104 in earnings from his inmate account and was picked up in a limousine by defense attorney Darnay Hoffmann.

Prisoners get paid? What the fuck is the reasoning behind this? I know that POW's are supposed to be paid a wage by their captors, but their soldiers not child-killers. It's bad enough that tax money goes to feed, clothe, and house these bastards but to pay them a wage is just too much. I understand that 104$ is not alot of pay for 17 years but it's the principle of the thing.

This man beat to death an inocent girl, he should be locked up until he dies. Now we know what her life was worth, 104$ and 17 years.

[sketerpot]

I would venture a guess that he's getting out early because the prison needs room for all those horrible people who smoke pot in their basement.

You have a good point, but it still doesn't explain how he got manslaughter (maximum of 25 years) instead of murder.

[RogueIce]

I would venture a guess that he's getting out early because the prison needs room for all those horrible people who smoke pot in their basement.

You have a good point, but it still doesn't explain how he got manslaughter (maximum of 25 years) instead of murder.

Plea deal? Technicality? *shrug*

[Wicked Pilot]

You have a good point, but it still doesn't explain how he got manslaughter (maximum of 25 years) instead of murder.

Of course it doesn't, it was never meant to. I was trying to explain his early release. I would speculate that his origional sentence probably had something to do with a plea bargain of some sort.

[Gil Hamilton]

Prisoners get paid? What the fuck is the reasoning behind this? I know that POW's are supposed to be paid a wage by their captors, but their soldiers not child-killers. It's bad enough that tax money goes to feed, clothe, and house these bastards but to pay them a wage is just too much. I understand that 104$ is not alot of pay for 17 years but it's the principle of the thing.

This man beat to death an inocent girl, he should be locked up until he dies. Now we know what her life was worth, 104$ and 17 years.

Prisoners get paid for work they do in things like prison assembly lines at well below minimum wage (I believe the max they can pay them is 50 cents an hour for skilled work). They have to pay them though, I think.

[Uraniun235]

Why do they have to pay them?

[Kamakazie Sith]

I would venture a guess that he's getting out early because the prison needs room for all those horrible people who smoke pot in their basement.

That's interesting because those aren't the people that end up in jail. It's the ones transporting drugs or out on the street getting high.

[fgalkin]

Why do they have to pay them?

Because slavery is illegal.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Glocksman]

Why do they have to pay them?

Because slavery is illegal.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Not for prisoners.

Section. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

As far as the pay goes, I believe its considered part of the rehabilitation process to have the prisoners earn money while incarcerated. This varies from state to state, however.

[Sarevok]

Only 17 years ? He should have been tried for murder and sentenced to death.

[Shroom Man 777]

Jesus Christ, we know people like this are crazy fucks who deserve to die and we let them off after 17 years? That's just sad. I mean, how can you rehabilitate shitstains like this? He killed his daughter for just staring at him, after 17 years and $104 does anyone seriously think this psychopath has atoned for his sins? People should stop hauling in drug addicts to prison, haul them to rehab facilities and make child-killing fucks like this guy spend the rest of their lives in a living hell.

And who's bright idea is it to pay a a prisoner $104 for spending 17 years in jail for mudering his daughter?!

[Col. Crackpot]

i read in the paper here that he killed the girl because she was staring at him, and he doesn't like to be stared at. Personally, i'd sit and stare at the fucker long enough to make him take a swing at me so i could legally kick his fucking ass.

[Durandal]

darthdavid's spam has been removed.

[Durandal]

Only 17 years ? He should have been tried for murder and sentenced to death.

17 years of a 25-year sentence. They had to let him out early to make room for all the non-violent drug offenders, after all.

[Stravo]

Steinberg left the upstate prison with $104 in earnings from his inmate account and was picked up in a limousine by defense attorney Darnay Hoffmann.

Prisoners get paid? What the fuck is the reasoning behind this? I know that POW's are supposed to be paid a wage by their captors, but their soldiers not child-killers. It's bad enough that tax money goes to feed, clothe, and house these bastards but to pay them a wage is just too much. I understand that 104$ is not alot of pay for 17 years but it's the principle of the thing.

This man beat to death an inocent girl, he should be locked up until he dies. Now we know what her life was worth, 104$ and 17 years.

If we treat prisoners like scum then why whine when they go right back out of prison and start robbing again. Maybe if they're treated somehwat decently, shown what an honest day's labor feels like and learn a trade or two I won't have to face the same guy 10 years down the road mugging me on the subway.

BTW he's staying at a half way house down the street from me. I didn't realize it was a halfway house for excons until this story. Sort of freaky.

[Aaron]

If we treat prisoners like scum then why whine when they go right back out of prison and start robbing again. Maybe if they're treated somehwat decently, shown what an honest day's labor feels like and learn a trade or two I won't have to face the same guy 10 years down the road mugging me on the subway.

BTW he's staying at a half way house down the street from me. I didn't realize it was a halfway house for excons until this story. Sort of freaky.

You make a good point. Do prisoners actually learn a trade, or do they spend the days making license plates? I suppose that if they learned a trade then they may be less likely to reoffend. In Canada prisoners can earn university degrees. Karla Humulka got her law degree, but I doubt she'll ever have the oportunity to practice it.

Any protesters outside that halfway house yet?

[Patrick Degan]

Only 17 years ? He should have been tried for murder and sentenced to death.

Steinberg's crime did not fit the legal definition of murder. To establish a prosecution for murder in the first degree, it is required to prove premeditation to commit the act based upon the defendant's conduct and actions to further the ultimate object of achieving a planned death. Murder in the second degree requires the establishment of intent to kill, or intent to let someone die with conscious knowledge that defendant's intervention would avert this result —the latter example fitting the definition of depraved indifference to human life.

Manslaughter is bringing about someone's death without specifically intending to do so, i.e. killing a person during a bar fight. First degree manslaughter specifies causing someone's death while intending to cause serious injury.

At the trial, Hedda Nussbaum testified that Steinberg did acede to her request that she call 911 to summon paramedics, which indicates that Steinberg did not have the intention to cause Lisa's death. However, his intent to cause the girl serious injury was impossible to obscure. Hence, the facts of the matter pointed toward making a case for Man-1 rather than murder.