The causing of such pain and the taking of life

Other voices spoke boldly Thursday on behalf of a voice silenced after only 18 short years.

Malcolm Astley and Mary Dunne, parents of Lauren Astley, spoke up on behalf of their murdered daughter, poignantly reminding Judge Peter Lauriat what they lost when Nathaniel Fujita took her life.

With his victim impact statement, Malcolm Astley told Lauriat "We need to acknowledge all of the fear, pain and distrust that resulted as collateral effects of the taking of [Lauren Astley's] life."

"The causing of such pain and the taking of life has to be marked by significant consequences for the agent of the pain or society falls apart and so does the agent, I believe, in a vacuum."

As Astley and Dunne spoke, Fujita sat quietly with his head bowed as he had throughout much of his three-week trial. The vicitms' impact statements were given prior to sentencing even though the state mandates a penalty of life without the possibility of parole for the crime of murder in the first degree.

Though 20-year-old Fujita has now been sentenced to life behind bars, Malcolm Astley took the opportunity in his victim's impact statement to implore that Fujita's life be one that turns now to doing what he can to make amends.

"He can step by step with resting and support and determination slowly acknowledge openly what he did; he can apologize for it deeply and repeatedly; he can grieve for Lauren ..."

Astley continued to add that Fujita can pursue opportunities to create understanding of how to address inner pain in order to prevent violence, especially violence against women.

"If he has the courage and will to pursue this path of his own design, it would all be a notable gift of atonement in Lauren's memory," Astley said. "He could help provide a lot of understanding, help other men like himself, prevent pain and loss and help make up for what he has set off."

Following Astley's remarks, Dunne stepped to the podium and told the judge that "shock, grief, disorientation, unrest and longing are mainstays of daily life," since her daughter's death.

"I am Lauren Dunne Astley's mother," Mary Dunne said. "But never again will I be called mom, mommy or mother.

"Lauren, who was my only child brought instant light and joy into my life. Whether singing or pleading for a new pair of shoes ... her voice was lovely, but now there is silence.

"Lauren does not have the privilege of re-entering the world, and it seems fair that Nathaniel should not either," Dunne concluded.

Lauriat ultimately sentenced Fujita to the state-mandated life in prison without the possibility of parole and a concurrent nine to 10 years for each of two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and 2.5 years for assault and battery.