WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Monday's West Seneca Town Board meeting was emotional for the Wierzbicki family.
West Seneca lawmakers passed a resolution in support of the "Justice for Rachael" Act sponsored by Assemblyman Pat Burke and affirmed Senator Pat Gallivan's supporting bill.
The town board meeting was filled with an army of "Rachael's Warriors" in support of the 22-year-old Rachael Wierzbicki who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend Shane Casado in November 2018.
Casado was briefly released on bail shortly after the alleged murder.
The "Justice for Rachael" Act would let judges hold "dangerousness hearings" and allow judicial discretion when deciding whether to release individuals on bail.
Assemblyman Burke released this statement Monday night:
“Tonight, the Town of West Seneca passed a resolution in support of the ‘Justice for Rachael’ Act. I would like to thank Councilman Joe Cantafio for introducing this resolution and the West Seneca Town Council for their support.
I have been working on this legislation for almost a year, with support from organizations like the Rachael Warrior Foundation and the Family Justice Center of Erie County, as well as the Family Violence and the Women's Rights Clinic at the UB Law School. Our hard work is paying off, and we are building critical momentum behind this legislation both at home and in Albany — where I am currently working to move this legislation forward. We must have a system where individuals who pose a serious danger to others and our community are detained pre-trial, regardless of their financial situation. I will continue fighting to get this legislation passed for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
Casado's jury trial is slated for the end of February.
