Pinkney Gets 25 Years to Life for 2021 Stabbing of Columbia Student
Vincent Pinkney, 30, was sentenced to 25 years to life for the December 2021 random stabbing death of Columbia Ph.D. candidate Davide Giri near Morningside Park. Giri's family traveled from Italy and told the court his future and dreams were destroyed. Pinkney pleaded guilty earlier this summer; prosecutors said the attack was intentional, while the defense cited a psychotic episode.
Vincent Pinkney, 30, received 25 years to life on Friday for the December 2021 killing of Davide Giri, a 30-year-old Columbia Ph.D. candidate, near Morningside Park. Giri was returning from soccer practice when he was stabbed.
That same night, Pinkney also wounded another man and tried to attack a third, who escaped and alerted police, leading to the arrest. Pinkney pleaded guilty earlier in the summer. He had a lengthy criminal record and was on parole after four years for gang assault.
The sentence may bring some closure to Giri’s family and Columbia community, though it cannot restore a life. It could also renew attention to how parole supervision, mental health treatment, and public safety intersect in New York. Residents near Morningside Park may feel reassured by the outcome, while advocates may debate whether the case illustrates gaps in crisis care or the need for accountability.