The Columbia University doctoral student fatally knifed by a sadistic gang member during a 2021 stabbing spree in Central Park was remembered as a “brilliant mind” robbed of a bright future Friday — as his killer finally faced justice.
Family of Davide Giri — the 30-year-old Italian Ph.D student tragically stabbed to death on Dec. 2, 2021 — flew in from Italy to pack a Manhattan courtroom as their kin’s slayer, Vincent Pinkney, was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison.
“All that remains for us are the memories of the beauty of his life and the hope that the love he gave will not be lost,” Renato Giri, Davide’s father, said through an interpreter in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Davide Giri — an avid soccer fan who’d left Italy in 2016 to chase his dreams of attending Columbia — had been working as a teaching assistant with hopes of getting his doctorate degree in computer science.
“Davide lost the entire future he was building with dedication, passion and sacrifice,” Giri’s sister, Caterina, said in an emotional statement read in court. “His life plans, the family he longed for, and the scientific research he would have given to the world.”
Giri was walking home soccer practice when Pinkney — who was on parole for a Queens gang assault conviction — came up from behind and stabbed him in the stomach in Morningside Park just before 11 p.m., officials said at the time.
He was one of three victims who were attacked during Pinkney’s terrifying 15-minute stabbing spree, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Giri’s stabbing, which was captured on video, came just before Pinkney attacked another victim, a then-27-year-old Italian tourist who was found with stab wounds to the torso, cops said then.
Pinkney’s terror frenzy only ended when he tried stabbing another victim in Central Park — but the man, who was with his girlfriend, was able to thwart the attack and flag down police.
Pinkney, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree and two counts of attempted murder in the second degree on July 10, in exchange for a promised sentence of 25-year-to-life behind bars.
He apologized to Giri’s family and the other victims during a short speech in court Friday, claiming that the attack was in part due to his schizophrenia.
His attorney, Michelle Benoit of the Legal Aid Society, said that Pinkney was “suffering from a psychotic episode” during the attacks.
Columbia University honored Giri’s legacy by granting him a posthumous degree and creating the Davide Giri Memorial Prize, an annual award for the Ivy League’s students.
“(He) was an exceptional researcher, a leader in mentoring younger students, and in fostering collaborations with other research groups, both at universities and in industry,” Columbia University professor Luca Carolini said.
