Press Releases

09/07/2022

Meriden Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for 2021 Stabbing Death of Wallingford Man

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(New Haven, CT) - John P. Doyle, Jr., New Haven State’s Attorney, announced today that Kristopher Carlson was sentenced on September 6, 2022 in New Haven Superior Court by the Honorable Elpedio N. Vitale to 16 years in prison for causing the death of Ernesto G. Cipolli III, 32, of Wallingford, on January 16, 2021.

Carlson, age 25, of Meriden, was found guilty of Manslaughter in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes 53a-55 following a jury trial in May of 2022. Evidence from the trial established that Carlson stabbed the victim multiple times during a physical altercation outside of the Corner Café in Wallingford. At the sentencing hearing, family members of the victim and defendant presented emotional pleas to the Court. Prior to imposing the 16-year sentence, Judge Vitale remarked that the incident was a wholly avoidable tragedy.

The case was investigated by the Wallingford Police Department and prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Seth R. Garbarsky and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Germain.