A New Jersey appeals court has upheld the conviction and 21-year prison sentence of Michael Pillarella, the Little Egg Harbor man found guilty of killing a 16-year-old girl and seriously injuring her friend in a 2021 crash while driving under the influence of multiple substances.
In a decision released Friday, a three-judge panel rejected Pillarella’s appeal, which challenged the admissibility of key evidence and accused the prosecutor of misconduct during trial.
The Appellate Division found no errors that warranted overturning the jury’s verdict or the sentence.
Pillarella was convicted in March 2023 of second-degree reckless manslaughter and third-degree assault by auto.
On Jan. 30, 2021, Pillarella was driving 81 mph in a 45-mph zone on Radio Road in Little Egg Harbor, according to the court ruling.
He crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a car driven by 17-year-old Kaitlyn Edwards, who was taking her 16-year-old friend, Gianna Palmieri, home.
The pair attended Pinelands Regional High School, according to the Press Of Atlantic City.
Palmieri died from her injuries nine days later.
Edwards was hospitalized for two weeks and underwent multiple surgeries, according to the court opinion.
Blood tests showed Pillarella had methadone, alprazolam (Xanax), fentanyl and alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.
Expert witnesses testified that the combination of substances caused “a very high level of impairment.”
The appellate court reviewed extensive trial testimony, including surveillance footage from a local bar showing Pillarella slurring and swaying before getting into his car.
Witnesses also testified that he admitted to drinking hard alcohol and taking methadone shortly before the crash.
He was sentenced to 17 years for reckless manslaughter under the No Early Release Act, plus a consecutive four-year term for assault by auto.
On appeal, Pillarella’s attorneys argued that the trial court improperly allowed testimony about his drug use and text messages recovered from his phone.
They also claimed the prosecutor made inflammatory remarks during closing arguments, mocking Pillarella’s emotional state and ridiculing the defense’s theory of the crash.
The appeals court opinion did not name the prosecutor.
However, a 2023 press release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office identified Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara as the attorneys who tried the case for the state.
“Oh woe is me,” the prosecutor said sarcastically, referring to Pillarella’s reaction after the collision.
He also dismissed the possibility that Pillarella swerved to avoid a deer, telling jurors, “How could he possibly think something could go wrong?”
“So when you’re going 80 miles an hour and the phantom deer jumps out in front of you, you don’t use the brake, nah, you just swerve into the lane of oncoming traffic, just for a second.”
The appeals court disagreed, finding the evidence was properly admitted and the judge gave the jury clear instructions to disregard any inappropriate comments.
The panel also rejected Pillarella’s claim that the victim’s driving contributed to the crash, noting she swerved only in an attempt to avoid his oncoming vehicle.
“The defendant’s actions, and his actions alone, caused (the victim) to swerve in a futile attempt to avoid the accident and ultimately caused the accident,” the judges wrote.
Pillarella remains incarcerated and is not eligible for parole until he serves at least 85% of his sentence.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office handled the case but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pillarella’s attorney, Kelly Anderson Smith of Hamilton, also could not be reached.
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