Man gets 9 years over assault of woman

BRIDGEPORT — A Bronx, N.Y., man, charged with choking and stabbing a local woman two years ago, was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison.

“This was a horrific criminal event,” Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo said at the sentencing of 30-year-old Christopher Jirau.

In addition to the nineyear term, the judge ordered Jirau to serve six years of special parole.

The victim had sent a letter to the court complaining that the sentence was too lenient but Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Zingaro told the judge that the victim refused to come to court to testify in the case.

“The victim’s decision not to testify put the prosecutor in a difficult situation and I believe, based on all the circumstances, the disposition is a fair one,” the judge said.

Jirau had been charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, home invasion, second-degree strangulation and firstdegree unlawful restraint. But under the plea bargain he pleaded guilty to firstdegree burglary, first-degree assault and seconddegree strangulation.

His lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kelly Billings, said Jirau had no comment on the sentence.

Police said on Jan. 22, 2020, officers were dispatched to Bridgeport Hospital for a victim of a stabbing.

The woman was taking out the garbage when she was confronted outside her apartment by Jirau, police said.

Police said Jirau put his hand over the woman’s mouth so she couldn’t scream and then forced her back into the apartment at knifepoint.

Once inside the apartment, police said the two tumbled to the floor and Jirau grabbed the woman’s throat in his hands and began choking her.

Police said Jirau released the woman as she began to pass out but then picked up his knife and repeatedly stabbed her in the torso and stomach.

Bleeding from her wounds, police said the woman was forced to sit in a chair while Jirau ranted at her. She pleaded with him to let her go to the hospital but he told her he was worried she would call the police.

After several hours, police said Jirau left the apartment and the victim drove herself to the hospital.

Police said Jirau was later arrested in Westchester County in New York and extradited to Connecticut.