Family, Friends, Others Focus on Astley's 'Light' in the Wake of Trial Verdict

Prosecutor Lisa McGovern turned to offer Mary Dunne and Malcolm Astley a look of success colored deeply with sadness as a jury declared Nathaniel Fujita guilty of murdering their 18-year-old daughter, Lauren Astley.

Across the courtroom Fujita stood with his head bowed, but otherwise was silent. His mother behind him began to cry.

As McGovern pulled Dunne and Malcolm Astley into a tight hug, the Fujita family let the tears flow freely and did their best to comfort one another knowing the crime Nathaniel Fujita had been found guilty of carries an automatic sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

But then another person stepped up to Tomo and Beth Fujita, the defendant's parents, to offer some comfort.

Malcolm Astley crossed the center aisle of Courtroom 530 to briefly hug the parents of the young man found guilty of his daughter's murder.

It was a moment that the people of Wayland have come to expect throughout the past 20 months as they watched Malcolm Astley; Dunne; and Lauren Astley's innumerable friends and family show strength and compassion in the face of incredible sadness and pain.

"Malcolm Astley is a morally extraordinary and profoundly decent man," commented David Stallard on Wayland Patch. "I've thought so from the beginning, and think it all the more so now."

A Day to Reflect

"The unspeakably dark actions of the defendant, exhibiting the very darkest side of human life, have devastated and dramatically altered the lives of so many," District Attorney Gerry Leone said later. "But I refuse to allow the dark side of our existence to obscure the light and I choose to focus on the light at this time.

"And the light is found in Lauren."

Three weeks of testimony and more than 240 evidence exhibits led to jury deliberations of just over seven hours. At about 10:15 a.m., the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts, including one of first-degree murder, stemming from Astley's July 3, 2011, death.

In a press conference later, Leone said the verdict coming on March 7 was fitting, as the day is known as Massachusetts White Ribbon Day — a day on which men pledge "to be part of the solution in ending violence against women."

"What White Ribbon Day signifies is men, men standing up against violence against women," Leone said. "There can be no more stark reminder of that concept than what you've covered over the past several weeks.

"There needs to be an end to that type of violence."

Relief

For now, there's an end to this case, and a chance to look forward.

Wayland Police Chief Bob Irving said there's a "tremendous sense of relief that it's over."

"I feel a sense of relief for us anyway, the police, that the investigation, the case, is over," he continued. "It was emotional for all the officers standing on Water Row when Lauren's body was found."

During the press conference, Irving told Malcolm Astley and Mary Dunne that he understood the trial's end would not "dull the pain for the loss you have suffered."

"I do want you to know that the grace and dignity that you have displayed since you lost your only child, is an inspiration to all of us," he continued.

Going on to reflect that Wayland was "deeply scarred" by Lauren Astley's murder, Irving commented he trusted the people of Wayland to continue to show compassion for "all of the families touched by this tragic event."

"And Lauren shall not be forgotten," Irving concluded, as Lauren Astley's parents teared up behind him. "Might I suggest that on each Fourth of July, each of us have a moment of reflection to remember there once was a young woman who loved to sing, that had graduated from Wayland High School with the Class of 2011 and was looking forward to going to college.

"Her name was Lauren Dunne Astley."