Dad Of Pollina Daughter Speaks On Thomas Valva Trial: 'Disgusted'

LONG ISLAND, NY — On the night before Angela Pollina — former fiancée of Michael Valva, an ex-NYPD officer convicted of murder in the death of his 8-year-old son — was slated to take the stand in her own defense Tuesday, the father of the youngest of her three daughters spoke out.

Gino Cali, who has attended Pollina's proceedings, said he believed the trial was "moving very fast. The prosecutors are an amazing team and wonderful people."

He did, however, say he wished the prosecution had used some of this daughter's statements, that she'd shared with them.

Cali described the experience of being in the courtroom: "It feels good, and it feels bad, too. It feels good to see her finally getting what she deserves — but the reason we are there is hard to deal with. I feel every emotion. Happiness that my daughter is where she belongs. Then I feel mad that it took a child to die. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. I’m disgusted when I read what Tommy went through. Being in the courtroom, seeing it myself, made me sick to my stomach and cry."

Valva and Pollina were arrested Jan. 24, 2020, and charged with second-degree murder and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Each faced 25 years to life in prison, and both pleaded not guilty.

Jurors convicted Valva of second-degree murder and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in Thomas' death. The boy froze to death in the Center Moriches garage. Valva was sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars.

"Knowing what my daughter had to deal with and see breaks my heart," Cali said. "She is the one who saw Tommy dying that morning. All of those children went through traumatic things on different levels in that house. I hope the outcome is the highest punishment — 25 years to life with no possibility of parole. She deserves an eye for an eye, honestly."

His daughter, he said, "is doing amazing. She is progressing and healing wonderfully. She has a good head on her shoulders, despite what she went through. She is nothing like Angela. She is a good human being and is thriving ... She shared stories with my girlfriend and is open about everything. She writes in a journal, too. She has made student of the month and does great in school. She has many friends. She’s the best big sister to my girlfriend’s three children and is their second mommy. We are beyond proud of her — and she is a warrior. Thomas is our hero."

Matthew Tuohy, Pollina's defense attorney, told Patch that Pollina will take the stand after the prosecution rests its case. He said she will be the only witness he calls to the stand.

After the prosecution cross-examines Pollina, closing arguments will follow and then, the jury will deliberate.

Tuohy maintains Pollina's innocence, as he has from the start of the proceedings.

"So far, the evidence is emotionally driven, but the facts show clearly she is not guilty of a murder and that it's Valva that acted alone in killing his son."

Tuohy added: "He did it. He committed the acts. And she tried to help the boy."

Cali said he believes "the defense is a joke, for many reasons."

And he said he believes, "Angela is a monster."

Opening arguments were heard last week. Since then, teachers and the principal from East Moriches Elementary School have offered emotional testimony, as they did in Valva's trial, describing the boys, who came to school bruised, soaked in urine, starving, and always cold. Detectives and others who responded to the home have also testified.

Pollina is "100 percent going to take the stand," Tuohy said last week. "She's going to own up to what she didn't do — commit the crime."

It was Valva who washed Thomas with water from an icy spigot in 19-degree weather, Tuohy said. Pollina wasn't the only person there; the housekeeper was also present, he said. And Pollina brought towels to help, he said.

"She's going to walk on the murder charge because Michael Valva committed all three stages of the acts. Despite bad prior acts, behavior, and treatment of the boys, she had no part in his death. In fact, when the boy was in distress she tried to help him in all three stages, in contrast with someone that acts with depraved indifference," Tuohy said.

During Valva's trial, one witness, a plumber, said he saw Pollina throw a child down the stairs. There was also evidence shown of texts reflecting Pollina's frustration with the incontinence of Thomas and his older brother and her stating that she did not want them in the house. Valva's defense team painted an image of Valva as a man stressed over finances, who had nowhere to go with his boys if he had to leave the home he shared with Pollina.

Thomas and his brother were forced to sleep in the frigid garage as temperatures outside plummeted to 19 degrees, prosecutors said. When he died, Thomas' body temperature was 76.1 degrees, 20 degrees lower than it should have been.

Thomas' mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, pleaded for help on her Twitter page before her son died. In 2020, Zubko-Valva filed a $200 million wrongful death suit.

Zubko-Valva has not responded to requests for comment.

In June, a judge ruled that portions of the $200 million lawsuit filed by Zubko-Valva after Thomas died can move forward, a judge ruled.