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Patterson sentenced to life without parole in shooting death of Deputy Wyman

By HILARY LANE

Story Created: Apr 11, 2012 at 12:37 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 11, 2012 at 6:11 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Christian Patterson, the man found guilty of killing Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman and shooting and missing other deputies during a stand-off at Patterson's Town of Augusta home in June 2011 , was sentenced to life without parole on Wednesday.

Before the judge handed down his sentence in Oneida County Court, Sheriff Robert Maciol, Wyman's mother and father, and his widow, Lauren, all spoke before the court for the last time to address the man who murdered their son, husband, co-worker, friend, father, and husband.

"You did not just kill a deputy sheriff," said Maciol. "You murdered a loving husband and father, caring son, and brother to all around him."

The statements were quite emotional and there were many teary eyes in the courtroom, as each person spoke of how Christian Patterson's actions in the early morning hours of June 7, 2011 resulted in the loss of the man they call their personal hero.

"I want the world to know the man Kurt was and the tragic and senseless and injustice that was done while murdering him," said Lauren Wyman, Kurt Wyman's widow. "Kurt often said life is full of choices. Good ones and bad ones. You, Christian Patterson, you made a bad choice."

Patterson then addressed the court, saying he is sorry for what happened, but blamed the Oneida County Sherriff's Office and said the county needs a review from the top to the bottom.

"That night the Oneida County Sherrif's Department wanted me dead for a reason so again Mrs. Wyman I am very, truly sorry for this tragedy and the loss of your son and I wish this never happened."

The judge said he is not surprised by Patterson's statement, because during the duration of the trial, he blamed others for the incident, including his girlfriend that threatened to leave him and what he calls 'faulty practices' by the Oneida County Sheriff's Office.

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