Judge Sentences Merrick Woman to 21 Years in Prison for Killing Newlywed Husband

After being convicted in June of strangling her husband with an electrical cord, Judge sends Kelly Forbes to prison for 21 years

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Nassau County judge has sentenced Kelly Forbes, 29, of Merrick, to 21 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. In June, a jury unanimously dismissed Forbes’ self-defense claims and convicted her of manslaughter in the electrical cord strangling death of her husband.

Forbes was arrested last November after the lifeless body of her husband, Michael Forbes, was found in the couple’s Merrick home. Police officers recovered an extension cord at the scene and Kelly Forbes later told detectives that she used the cord to strangle her husband in self-defense. In June, a jury found Forbes guilty of Manslaughter in the First Degree.

“The jury saw through the defendant’s story and a today a judge sentenced her to serve a lengthy and justified term in upstate prison,” said Rice following the sentencing.

Michael Forbes’ mother and 15-year-old daughter spoke at Monday’s sentencing, in front of Nassau County Court Judge Jerald Carter.

ADA Michael Canty of the DA’s County Court Bureau is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Forbes is being represented by Anthony Capetola, Esq.