Boston, Sept. 24, 2014—The two men who fatally stabbed 58-year-old Richel Nova were sentenced to life in prison today and the woman who lured the pizza delivery man and doting father to his death received a lengthy prison term, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ALEXANDER GALLETT (D.O.B. 4/28/92) of Hyde Park, MICHEL ST. JEAN (D.O.B. 8/3/90) of Hyde Park, and  YAMILEY MATHURIN (D.O.B. 2/25/93) of Mattapan were sentenced today in Suffolk Superior Court, one day after a jury found Gallett and St. Jean guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony.  Mathurin, who was 17 and thus a juvenile at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty to the crime of manslaughter for her role in setting up the crime, as well as armed robbery and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony on Sept. 8 as jury selection for their trial was underway.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman of the DA’s Homicide Unit recommended that Gallett and St. Jean each serve life in prison without the possibility of parole – the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder – followed by a term of 20 years on the charges of armed robbery and breaking and entering.  Judge Linda Giles sentenced the men to life in prison with concurrent terms of five to seven years for armed robbery and one to three years in prison for breaking and entering.

Hickman recommended Mathurin serve 17 to 20 years in prison, followed by three years probation; Giles imposed the recommended sentence.

Prosecutors accepted Mathurin’s plea in the wake of a 2013 decision by the Supreme Judicial Court that would have barred a sentence of life without parole: Due to Mathurin’s age, a first- or second-degree murder sentence would have resulted in her becoming parole-eligible after 15 years.

“The savageness and senselessness of this crime shocks the conscience.  Richel Nova was a truly innocent victim who wanted nothing more than to provide for his family,” Conley said.  “Today’s sentencing cannot take away the pain his family has suffered since the night he was taken from them, but I hope they find some comfort and satisfaction in knowing that the people responsible for his murder have been brought to justice.”

Hickman presented evidence and testimony to prove that on Sept. 1, 2010, Mathurin, Gallett, and St. Jean arrived at a vacant home at 742 Hyde Park Ave. at approximately 8:00 p.m.  At 11:00 that night, Mathurin went to the home a neighbor and asked to use the woman’s phone; she used the phone to call to Domino’s and place an order for delivery.  Mathurin left St. Jean’s cell phone as the call back number.

Surveillance images showed a vehicle arrive at the address within 40 minutes; that vehicle was later determined to be Nova’s Subaru bearing a Domino’s sign on its roof.  Phone records indicate that he made two calls to St. Jean’s cell phone, both of which went unanswered.  He was met by Mathurin, who led him up the home’s rear stairs and into the second floor.

A neighbor who had seen the two enter the building then heard a commotion and Nova calling out in Spanish.  That neighbor later saw the three defendants fleeing the building, with Mathurin carrying a pizza box, Hickman proved.

Nova’s body was discovered inside the vacant home; he had suffered 16 stab wounds to his chest, back, arms, and neck, and his pants pockets had been turned out.

Gallett, St. Jean, and Mathurin took off with Nova’s Subaru, the pizzas and soda he delivered, and approximately $143 in cash.  The vehicle was found abandoned in a church parking lot on River Street.  Bleach had been poured over parts of the vehicle and a blood soaked Domino’s pizza box was found nearby.

The three were each interviewed separately in the coming days.  Gallett admitted that he and St. Jean were armed with knives and stabbed Nova repeatedly.  He indicated that the knife used by St. Jean broke during the assault; a broken knife was recovered from the home’s rear porch during the course of the investigation.

In addition to surveillance images, witness testimony, and their own words, the defendants were linked to the scene through DNA, fingerprints, and footwear impressions.

“My father stressed that in life you have to work hard so that tomorrow you can relax.  The reason I work hard is because my father not only worked hard himself, he pushed us all to work hard.  My father worked hard for his tomorrow.  His tomorrow was the ability to take care of his family; his tomorrow was the success and wellbeing of his family.  His tomorrow was the day that he would move back to the Dominican Republic,” one of Nova’s twin daughters told the court in an emotional victim impact statement.

Hickman read statements written by other family members, who recalled Nova as a man who was devoted to his family who worked hard and avoided trouble.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Montgomery of the DA’s Appellate Unit assisted in the prosecution.  Timothy Munzert was the DA’s assigned victim witness advocate.  St. Jean was represented by attorney Eduardo Masferrer, Gallett by attorney William White, and Mathurin by Steven Sack.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.