Politics & Government

Truck Driver Asks Forgiveness from Family of Two He Killed

Addressing the family of Angel "Jorge'' and Angelina Posca, Marcos Costa apologized and said Angelina's face will be in his heart forever. Minutes later, a bailiff led him back to jail.

His hands clasped, faced family and friends of the two people he killed in 2009 and asked for their forgiveness.

Speaking to the victims’ family for the first time since his 18-wheel big rig plowed into Angel “Jorge’’ Posca’s Ford Escort – shearing it nearly in half and instantly killing – Costa, 46, said that he sees the little girl's face in his mind every day.

“I work with [children] and I imagine her being one of the classroom kids I would never see again,’’ Costa said through a Portuguese translator, minutes before a bailiff led the former pastor back to jail. He's been out on bail since February.

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Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Darrell Mavis sentenced the Brazilian-born Costa to seven years and four months in state prison. With time served in Los Angeles County Jail, following his June 2009 arrest, calculated with good behavior, Costa could serve three years in state prison.

A jury convicted Costa July 29 of involuntary manslaughter, gross vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious second-degree murder charges. The maximum sentence was nine years and four months.

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Family Members Speak Out

Wearing white T-shirts with images of Angel and Angelina, more than a dozen Posca family members and friends filled two courtroom rows and stood along the back wall. Several shook their heads as Costa addressed them, asking repeatedly for forgiveness. Several held hands. Many, including Angel’s son, Ito, wiped reddened eyes.

Ito, along with his sister Giovanna Posca, were watching TV Apr. 1, 2009, waiting for their dad and sister to get home from work. For 20 years, Angel drove from Palmdale to Long Beach for the family business, Posca Brothers Dental Lab. On that day, Angelina, on spring break from school, accompanied him.

It was the breaking news alert that struck the siblings mute: an out-of-control big rig careened down Angeles Crest Highway, and slammed and dragged several cars before bulldozing into a strip of stores on Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada.

It was the exit Posca took to cut through the mountains to get home. And it looked like their car’s hubcap laying on the asphalt, Giovanna explained to the court in stunted breaths. Some time later, the call no one wanted changed everybody’s life.

“The truth was too much,’’ she said, adding, “I realize now I was deeply traumatized.’’

Although Angelina was nine years younger than her, Giovanna looked up to her little sister, who she described as a talented ballroom dancer, cheerleader and actress, as well as a straight-A student.

Her family is still recovering from the gaping loss, and her mother is still under a physican’s care – in fact, for the first time in two-plus years of hearings, was conspicuously absent Thursday. In an earlier statement, Yanette said that she did not want to exact revenge on Costa – that he would be living with these deaths for the rest of his life.

The Judge’s Ruling

Mavis denied probation, which defense attorney asked for, stating that although he does not believe Costa to be a threat to others, his crimes of gross vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving did, in fact, cause physical and emotional injuries to many.

The judge did, however, take into consideration the fact that Costa seemed remorseful, that he was an upstanding member of the community prior to the accident (a pastor for 20 years who took up truck driving to earn extra money), and that he was a man trying to provide for his family.

“I know many members of the family want a prison sentence for the rest of [Costa's] life, and that’s totally understandable...but the defendant appears to have been living a life that was admirable. This is truly a difficult position for the court,’’ he said.

Prosecution and Defense Reaction

While Murphy called the sentencing “harsh,’’ and is appealing the ruling, Lugo told a throng of reporters outside court that she believes Costa should’ve received the maximum sentence.

“He had so many warnings. Not only someone actually stopping him but the nature of the road.

“He just needed to stop the truck and wait and because he didn’t do that, Jorge Posca and Angelina Posca are not here with us.’’

In addition to the sentencing, Costa was also ordered to pay approximately $110,000 in restitution to victims and the city of


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