‘I am solely responsible’
Bouncer pleads guilty to manslaughter
The Sons of Boston bouncer accused of stabbing a U.S. Marine outside the downtown bar has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Joshua Wall accepted the plea agreement worked out by both the prosecution and the defense and sentenced Alvaro Larrama to 17 to 20 years in state prison yesterday.
“This senseless act of violence places fear in the heart of parents because it could happen to anyone. Mr. Larrama picked my son that night,” Apolonia Martinez, the mother of the victim, said in a victim impact statement ahead of sentencing. “I’m just a heartbroken mother asking you to sentence this man to 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole.”
Larrama was charged with second-degree murder in the death of U.S. Marine Daniel Martinez, 23. Prosecutors say that the two had an altercation outside the bar on March 19, 2022, after which Larrama stabbed Martinez fatally in the chest. Martinez was in town from his home near Chicago to do a St. Patrick’s Day weekend pub crawl in Boston with friends.
The prosecutor said that during plea agreement negotiations, Martinez’s family said that the length of imprisonment and not the name of the crime was the most important element. The family indicated to the prosecution that they would rather Larrama plead to manslaughter with a longer sentence than second-degree murder with a shorter sentence.
“Did you stab Daniel Martinez in the chest,” the judge asked following a reading of the prosecution’s statement of facts.
“I did, your honor,” Larrama said.
Larrama also spoke during the sentencing, leading with an apology.
“First and foremost, I want to sincerely and deeply apologize to Daniel Martinez’s family,” he said. “My heart goes out to all of Mr. Martinez’s family, friends, and loved ones, but especially to his mother.
“I pray daily to Jehovah that you find love and peace in your heart,” he continued. “I want you to know that I am solely responsible for Mr. Martinez’s death.”