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NH Man Sentenced To 52 Years In Stabbing Death Of EMT

NASHUA, N.H. (CBS) ---- Matthew Packer will spend decades behind bars for the 2011 stabbing death of Paul Frontiero III and for injuring Paul's two roommates.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

NH Man Sentenced To 52 Years In Stabbing Death Of EMT

"I'm sorry for Paul for taking everything from him," Packer told the court. "I'm sorry to his family for all the grief and loss that has come of this."

Frontiero, an off-duty EMT in Massachusetts, was inside his Nashua, New Hampshire home and heard a commotion outside.

Paul Frontiero III
Paul Frontiero III (Credit: family photo)

He came out to find two of his roommates, Jill Arnold and Kathryn Libby, being assaulted by Packer. Frontiero was then stabbed 16 times.

Prosecutors say the two women, along with other friends, had been standing outside their home. Someone yelled out the words "Captain Crunch," and for whatever reason that caused Packer, who was a passenger in a car driving by, to get out of the car and attack.

"It was senseless," said Arnold. "It was just a car that turned around and a kid that wanted to hurt somebody."

A professor from Dartmouth College testified for the defense at today's sentencing and said Packer suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after being abused as a child by two family members.

"Matthew Packer has ruined my life," said Frontiero's best friend Traci Denver. "Because of his actions, myself, and all who knew Paul are left to rebuild a Paul-less world, which sometimes I don't think is worth living."

Frontiero's parents, Catherine and Paul Jr., addressed the court as well.

"We really did raise a true gentleman," said Catherine Frontiero. "We are so proud of you, please continue to watch over us in Heaven."

Packer was sentenced to 52 years in prison for killing Paul and for the attack on his roommates.

But the judge said that could be reduced by 10 years with good behavior.

"The defendant is a parent's worst nightmare," said New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati. "A stranger in the night who attacks and kills for no reason."

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