Former Norwalk official sentenced to 50 years for killing tenant
The evidence from that trial in June was rehashed by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning as she outlined the months-long contentious relationship between Wink and Lametta that ended in a deadly shooting on Jan. 20, 2022.
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Ellen Wink, the former Norwalk official convicted of killing her tenant, was sentenced to 50 years in prison—a life sentence since Wink is 65 years old. On Friday, she returned to Stamford Superior Court where a jury previously found her guilty of Kurt Lametta’s murder.
The evidence from that trial in June was rehashed by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning as she outlined the months-long contentious relationship between Wink and Lametta that ended in a deadly shooting on Jan. 20, 2022. Manning called the crime a planned and deliberate execution, fueled by Wink’s “visceral hatred.”
“This is somebody who presents as a huge danger to the community,” Manning stated. “We have an individual who just committed the most heinous act imaginable, that destroyed a family, that impacted a community. This is somebody who should never be released into the community again.”
Wink shook her head throughout Manning’s address to the court, disputing the prosecutor’s statements. A couple times, Wink mouthed the words, “Oh my, God,” and once the word, “liar,” in response to what was said.
Defense attorney Stephan Seeger, meanwhile, urged the judge to consider Wink’s lack of criminal history and the circumstances around what happened.
“She was never in trouble in her life. It was a toxic relationship,” Seeger said.
At the time, Lametta had stopped paying rent and refused to leave despite Wink telling him multiple times that she wanted him out.
“You're in a Covid-era where you're not allowed to evict anybody essentially, and the frustration builds,” Seeger said. “It wasn't as easy during that particular time just to simply go to court and evict somebody. Does that justify what happened here? Of course not. But does it make us understand how a relationship could become toxic? How a person can become so frustrated that they act outside of the ambit of their ordinary set of rules for themselves. I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that's true.”
Wink was Norwalk’s Republican deputy registrar at the time. She’d led a productive and charitable life, including raising money to fund life-saving equipment for firefighters, which a longtime friend asked the judge to take into account.
“Ellen was a strong, kind and caring force in our community, and she positively touched many lives,” Cindy Bess said.
Lametta's brother spoke briefly, thanking the judicial system for giving him some closure and saying he hopes Wink’s conviction deters other people from doing something like that in the future. “My heart goes out to both families, and it's just disheartening,” said Kenny Lametta, as a victims’ advocate stood beside him.
Wink addressed him directly when she had her turn to speak. “From my lips to God's ears, I’m very remorseful for the loss of your brother, and I know you lost three brothers in two years. That had to have been really rough,” Wink said before turning to face the judge for the rest of her comments.
Wink told the court much of much of what happened on that deadly day has been misconstrued, which has been difficult for her.
“Please, sir, there was no hurt in my heart to harm anybody—never will be, never was. I’ve been a caretaker my whole life,” she stressed to Judge John Blawie.
Blawie acknowledged that Lametta’s behavior must’ve been frustrating and troubling to Wink, but the judge wasn’t swayed.
“Unlike any other landlord faced with a similarly admitted non-paying tenant situation, the defendant saw fit to kill. The defendant saw fit to commit murder. What should've been a routine matter for the housing court docket turned into something far more dark and deadly,” Blawie said before handing down a sentence of 50 years. “Your actions in this case bring to mind an old expression that bears an element of truth here. ‘Before you set out on a journey of revenge, first dig two graves.’ Not that you’re facing the death penalty here, but because of your age, the sentence this court will impose will effectively encompass the rest of your natural life.”
Seeger said his client will be appealing her case and requested a post-conviction bond, which Blawie denied. Wink previously turned down a plea deal for 40 years and opted to head to trial.
The jury deliberated for just over two hours across two days before coming to a verdict. They weren’t tasked with determining if Wink killed Lametta but whether it was murder. Wink admitted to shooting Lametta, telling the 911 operator that he came after her. Her attorney argued it was a case of self-defense and also claimed Wink was under extreme emotional disturbance when she pulled the trigger five times—an incident the jury saw over and over at trial.
Lametta was secretly recording his encounter with his landlord in the kitchen and captured his own death. The footage was central to the prosecution's case as it disputed the narrative that Lametta lunged at Wink. Still frames of the footage showed Wink was the one who advanced toward her tenant. The incident began relatively calmly, with Lametta complaining about Wink entering the house and cleaning out the fridge because she wanted to sell the house.
“That's ridiculous. Every day you're going to come and throw people's stuff away?" Lametta asked.
His phone was in his hand by his side. There was some rattling sound, then he was shot twice, followed by a pause.
"You bastard," Wink stated, before firing three more times and shouting at Lametta in a guttural voice.
"Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out of my house! Get out of here!" Wink screamed as Lametta fell to the floor, dropping the phone.
The screen went black but continued to record Wink yelling at Lametta.
"You think I'm [expletive] with you?! Do you?! Do you think I'm [expletive] with you?! Knock it off, you [expletive] ! I'll give you nice! [Expletive] off!"
Wink then picked up Lametta's phone and carried on shouting as she left the house, appearing to toss the phone into a bush outside.
The judge called the discovery of that video “a game changer in this case.”
PRIOR COVERAGE:
Jury deliberations begin in murder trial of ex-Norwalk official charged in tenant’s deadly shooting
Defense in Ellen Wink’s murder trial rests with extreme emotional disturbance, self defense claims
Psychologist’s testimony: Ellen Wink feared Kurt Lametta before she shot and killed him
Jury sees footage of prior incident between Ellen Wink and tenant she fatally shot 4 months later
Jury sees still images of Norwalk landlord pointing gun at tenant on Day 5 of murder trial
Jury hears 911 call Ellen Wink made after shooting tenant
The trial of Ellen Wink: Landlord, ex-Norwalk official accused of killing tenant
