Sullivan 'Disappointed,' But Looking Ahead to Appeal

Defense attorney William Sullivan said he is "disappointed with the verdict," announced Thursday morning. The jury decided his client, Nathaniel Fujita, is guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Lauren Astley of Wayland.

"We knew that this was a possibility," Sullivan said, noting a defense built on mental illness is complex. "It was a difficult concept for jurors to understand, especially if you haven't dealt with mental illness in your family."

Moments after Judge Peter Lauriat sentenced Fujita to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Sullivan talked with reporters downstairs at the Middlesex Superior Courthouse.

"I know how badly he feels," Sullivan said, responding to whether Fujita will offer an apology to the Astleys.

"This is not the appropriate forum for an apology," Sullivan said. "The appropriate forum, if there is going to be anything like that, is a private discussion. This is not something that we would play out ... for cameras and for everyone else. If there's ever going to a conversation like that, you will not see it in public."

During his victim impact statement, Malcolm Astley, Lauren Astley's father, implored Fujita to acknowledge what he did, "apologize for it deeply and repeatedly," and then work to "prevent violence, especially men's violence against women and perhaps even prevent men's violence against men."

Sullivan acknowledged that Fujita's family has suffered and is suffering, but what they have gone through "pales to what Lauren Astley's family has gone through."

He said an appeal will be filed, but it could take months, or even years, to process. Court transcripts will be prepared and information will be reviewed to see if there were errors in the law. Sullivan said he is considering some grounds for the appeal, but declined to go into specifics.

"There may be some [grounds for appeal] when we review the transcripts, review the testimony," Sullivan said.

Sullivan added he is hopeful Fujita will still receive treatment for mental illness even though the guilty verdict places emphasis on incarceration rather than treatment.