Troy

Rensselaer Police Chief Rick Fusco doubled over with his face in his hands on Friday as his son apologized in court to the family of his best friend, who was killed in an alcohol-related crash a year ago.

Former Rensselaer police officer Mark Fusco was sentenced to three to nine years in prison as part of a plea agreement. In March 2013, his speeding car slammed into a tree on Third Avenue Extension, killing his passenger, Sean M. Murphy, 22, a Union College student.

Mark Fusco, who often turned to look at Murphy's family, said he contemplated suicide after he learned that his friend was dead.

"I will never know why I got in the car that night," Fusco said. "No words that I can find could describe how sorry I am that I killed my best friend."

Fusco, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular manslaughter before Rensselaer County Judge Debra Young.

"Mark, you smashed into that tree going more than 95 mph," the victim's mother, Coreen Murphy of Slingerlands, said in court.

"I was destroyed, my heart shattered and, sadly, since that day, I wish every morning when I open my eyes that somehow I could trade places with my son Sean," she said. "What a horrific, violent way for any human being to die, and then to know it was your child, the child you protected for 22 years, is just too much to carry. I wish Mark no harm. I know he will be released from prison while he is still in his 20s, he will have a job, maybe a wife, kids, grandkids, but I do expect justice for the crime that was committed. He killed our son."

Fusco arrived at court shortly after 1 p.m. He was hugged by his father and his mother, Kim Fusco, before joining his attorney, Peter Moschetti, at the defense table.

A priest accompanied the family to court.

Mark Fusco cried and his parents hugged and wiped away tears as he was handcuffed and taken into custody to serve his sentence.

"Sean became a victim when Mark put his foot on that gas pedal," said the victim's father, Stephen Murphy, outside court. "Mark's words sounded heartfelt and I feel awful for him and his family."

When asked if he had forgiven Fusco, Murphy, after a long pause, did not answer.

Rick Fusco made a brief statement on his way out of the courtroom.

"Since this happened our thoughts and prayers have been with the Murphy family," he said.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Shanley said the nature of the crash was made more disturbing by the fact that Fusco was a police officer.

Fusco, who joined the department in August 2012, registered a 0.20 percent blood alcohol content, according to police. The legal limit for driving while intoxicated is 0.08 percent. He left the force shortly after his arrest.

Fusco was originally charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated and aggravated vehicular homicide.

bgardinier@timesunion.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier