Syosset man found guilty of manslaughter in mother's killing

A judge on Thursday convicted a 31-year-old autistic man of manslaughter, finding he was experiencing an extreme emotional disturbance when he fatally stabbed his mother in their family's Syosset home in 2019.

State Supreme Court Justice Angelo Delligatti also found Ian Kazer not guilty of second-degree murder and guilty of attempted murder, assault and grand larceny.

Prosecutors said the defendant stabbed Frances Kazer 47 times on March 20, 2019, after sneaking up on her in the kitchen, hours after he argued with her and his father, Howard Kazer, over getting fired from Target and being arrested on a charge of stealing nearly $3,000 in gift cards.

The defendant's legal team argued during the trial that Kazer wasn't guilty of second-degree murder in his mother's killing or attempted murder for attacking his father, who came home from picking up a pizza as his wife lay dying on the kitchen floor. The father, now 71, was able to wrestle the steak knife away from his son and call 911.

Defense attorney Brian Griffin said in his closing argument that Kazer stabbing his 66-year-old mother 47 times was "the definition of a loss of control" and that the autistic man had "snapped" after a volcanic argument with his parents about his firing and arrest.

He called Kazer's actions "the picture of an extreme emotional disturbance" — a legal defense whereby a defendant can be found not guilty of murder but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. One of the prongs of that legal defense includes proving that someone has profoundly lost self control.

But prosecutor Nicole Aloise had argued the defendant was "in complete control" when he attacked his parents and that the case was "not about autism" but about the son's "intentional acts."

She told Delligatti the defendant had fantasized about killing his parents and finally had the motivation to act, turning his family's Syosset Circle residence into "a house of horrors."

Delligatti called Frances Kazer's killing "horrible" and also said from the bench Thursday that deciding a verdict in the case was one of the most difficult decisions he'd ever had to make as a judge.

Delligatti said he believed the defendant was triggered and lost control, killing his mother because he was "very much affected" by her reaction during the argument. The son had been used to seeing his mother as his "protector" and someone "who took care of his needs," the judge added.

But Delligatti said the extreme emotional disturbance defense failed when it came to the son's attack on his father.

During the trial, forensic psychologist and attorney Joe Scroppo testified for the defense that Ian Kazer was "very seriously impaired" by autism and ADHD and lost control because he believed his parents were going to kick him out of the family's home after their argument. He said what Kazer believed to be true at the time triggered emotional difficulties that led to the violence after his parents said "there was no future for him" and "his life was over."

But forensic psychiatrist Jeremy Colley testified for the prosecution that the defendant didn't profoundly lose control.

Prosecutors also had alleged Ian Kazer had wanted to be free from his parents' control and was resentful when he lashed out because he knew after losing his job he would have to rely on them more than ever with no income of his own.

Through his son's lawyers, Howard Kazer declined to comment after court. But Griffin and his partner, attorney Daniel Russo, released a statement calling Frances Kazer's death at the hands of her autistic son "an unspeakable tragedy."

They added: "From the beginning, Ian Kazer offered to plead guilty under an extreme emotional disturbance, which was obvious to everyone that he had suffered. Now justice has been served by the court's verdict and the appropriate and measured punishment will follow."

The defendant now faces 5 to 25 years in prison on his top convictions of manslaughter and attempted murder, according to his lawyers.

A spokesman for Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas said her office would decline to comment Thursday on the verdict or whether prosecutors would seek consecutive sentencing. But a release from Singas' office said later Thursday that Kazer faces a potential maximum sentence of 51 1/3 to 54 years in prison.

Kazer nodded at his father, who gave him a thumbs-up, as court officers led him out in handcuffs after the verdict for his return to jail.

The judge scheduled sentencing for July 19.