Christopher Gish sentenced to 40 years in prison
GREENFIELD -- A Milwaukee County judge sentenced 38-year-old Christopher Gish to 40 years in prison plus another 20 years of extended supervision on Friday, January 4th. That was the maximum sentence allowed for Gish, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Margaret Litwicki.
Gish pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree reckless homicide in November. He was accused of killing Litwicki on Saturday, July 14th. Litwicki was found stabbed to death in her Greenfield home.
Officials say two of Litwicki’s three children, two boys, ages eight and six were in the home, along with two adults. Police do not believe any of them witnessed the incident.
According to the criminal complaint, Gish admitted to police that he stabbed Litwicki in the chest numerous times after he said she threatened to take the kids away. The report states that Gish told police: “I never wanted to kill her,” but later said, “You know what? I don’t feel bad that I did it. I honestly don’t for some #$@&ing oddball reason dude…”
Gish also told police he believed Litwicki was having an affair with a man named Mikey, and said he regrets not being able to get to him. After stabbing Litwicki to death, Gish tells police he said, “I hope it was worth it…”
In court on Friday, multiple family members spoke before the judge, asking him to impose the maximum sentence onto Gish.
"My daughter, Margaret, became the center of my life," said mother Deborah Wensierski.
"We'll never be able to see her again or talk to her. She's not here for us now," said 12-year-old daughter Kirsten Litwicki.
Litwicki was the mother of three children, one girl and two boys, ages 12, 8, and 7. Prosecutors say the two youngest kids were inside the home at the time of the killing.
On Friday, Gish also issued a tearful apology to his children, who are now left without a mom. He also asked the judge for a shorter sentence.
"I will feel regret for what happened. No matter how much I wish I can go back and undo this, I can't," he said.
The judge, however, sided with the victim's family, calling this a classic case of domestic violence.
"There is a zero tolerance level for those cases," said Judge Jeffrey Wagner.
"It's a start. It's a start of my closure," said Wensierski, who was pleased with the sentence.
"This sentence helps. It doesn't make anything better, but he's not coming in our lifetime," said Patti Cornwell, a cousin of Litwicki.
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