SOUTHINGTON MAN SENTENCED IN FATAL FIRECRACKER BLAZE

New Britain — A 19-year-old man who threw a firecracker through a Southington apartment window and started a fire that killed a friend’s sister last year was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday.

Eric Morelli apologized to the family of the victim, 19-yearold Kristen Milano, and said during the emotional sentencing hearing in New Britain Superior Court that he couldn’t believe he caused her death. “My life will never be the same. There is never a day that goes by that I won’t think about Kristen or her family,” he said.

Milano’s relatives disapproved of the plea deal, saying the prison sentence wasn’t long enough. Morelli pleaded guilty to manslaughter in May.

Morelli told police the incident happened after a night of drinking and smoking marijuana, when he went to the apartment hoping to awaken Kristen’s brother, Jason Milano. Morelli said he threw three “popper” fireworks at Jason Milano’s bedroom window and one went through the screen.