09.16.08 - Gal's Toxic
Visine Tea - Cops to "Dropping" Roomie
The Long Island woman who poisoned a housemate by putting
eye drops in his iced tea - a dirty trick depicted in the
hit movie "Wedding Crashers" - was sentenced yesterday
to three years' probation for the sickening assault.
Hairdresser Kristine Anzalone, 25, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor
assault and was ordered by a Nassau County judge to pay
her victim's $10,205 medical bill because he does not have
health insurance.
Victim Joseph Gentissi Jr., 32, was not satisfied.
"It's not fair," said Gentissi, who had also
accused Anzalone of killing his Chihuahua, Gucci.
"This is a woman who tried to poison me. She should
have been charged with attempted murder. We were hoping
she was going to get a strong sentence."
Anzalone's lawyer said her client was only protecting her
unborn child, because Gentissi - who had lived with her
and her then-husband, Christopher, in North Bellmore - refused
to stop smoking around her while she was pregnant.
Anzalone yesterday declined to comment on the June 2006
poisoning, which caused Gentissi to vomit and bleed rectally.
Judge William Donnino yesterday also issued an order of
protection, directing Anzalone to stay away from Gentissi.
"She's sorry, she's remorseful for her actions,"
said her lawyer, Nancy Bartling, after the sentencing. "While
she was pregnant, the victim was doing things that were
not good for her baby."
Gentissi denied endangering her unborn child.
"No, I would not smoke in the home around a woman
who was pregnant," he said.
"She lost control. She was jealous," he said,
claiming she was angry that he and her husband would go
out drinking, leaving her at home.
"She took it as a big joke. She set out to hurt me
and she sure did."
He claims Anzalone attacked his Chihuahua and goaded a
pit bull to kill it. Bartling said the charges were not
true, and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice's
office dropped them.
Visine contains tetrahydrozoline, a chemical that constricts
blood vessels and can cause vomiting and other ailments
if ingested.
In "Wedding Crashers," a character, played by
Owen Wilson, squirts Visine into a love rival's drink with
decidedly more comic results.
- Kieran Crowley:
New York Post Staff Writer
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