By Howard Koplowitz
A Far Rockaway woman whose Ozone Park daughter and her unborn grandson were murdered went to Albany last week where she picked up the support of the state Right to Life Committeefor a bill that would treat killing a pregnant woman as two separate murders.
Towanda Wimms, 45, said she was hoping to get the legislation, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, on the floor of the state Legislature when it opens in January.
“A lot of people, this has happened to their families and they’re not speaking up,” Wimms said in a phone interview Monday.
Wimms said she was trying to meet state Senate President Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) and state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) for their support, but has come up empty.
Wimms said the state Right to Life Committee “were right on board” with the legislation, which would have those who kill pregnant women to be charged with two murders.
“I want justice for my daughter. This was disgusting,” Wimms said of the killings of her daughter, Niasha DeLain, and unborn grandson, Aidan.
“We’ve been advocating for this bill for some time,” said Deb Cody of the Right to Life Committee. “We would like to see Towana have justice for her grandson.”
The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Darrell Aubertine (D-Watertown) in the Senate and Assemblyman Michael Benjamin (D-Bronx) in the Assembly.
In the past, it was sponsored by then-state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), but he was voted out of office last year.
DeLain’s boyfriend and the father of her unborn baby, Derrick Redd has been charged with her murder but not with killing Aidan.
DeLain, a customer service agent for Capital One Bank who was also pursuing an accounting degree at the College of New Rochelle, was killed on her due date and her father’s birthday: Oct. 25, 2008.
Redd is facing charges of murder, abortion and criminal possession of a weapon in Queens Supreme Court after being indicted Dec. 17. A hearing scheduled for Oct. 8 was postponed. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 14.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
