MARC ANTHONY BOOKAL - Aged 4 years - Newburgh, New York (USA)

Times Herald-Record

25 April 2010

Roses and tears for 4-year-old Marc Bookal‎

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Yul Bookal bowed his head, bit his lip and apologized to his son.
“Marc, I'm so sorry you didn't get your speed racer you wanted for Christmas.”
He began weeping under his dark sunglasses. He sniffled and cried so hard that he squealed with each breath.
“I wanna let you know I'm never gonna forget you.”
The sorrow grew too heavy. Yul Bookal collapsed on his 4-year-old son's casket. He pressed his face against the shiny, pearl-white wood and continued.
“I know you're in heaven, I know you're in a better place, but I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna come to you and read to you on every birthday.”
Tears fell from the faces of the 250 mourners. Ushers in the House of Refuge on Broadway passed out tissue boxes. Some put an arm around their neighbors. Others covered their swollen eyes.
Newburgh has put a lot of young men in coffins lately. But no little boys. Not until now.
Marc Anthony Bookal was laid to rest Saturday, 131 days after he disappeared from his mother's home on Benkard Avenue.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100425/NEWS/100429760/-1/SITEMAP

Mid-Hudson News

25 April 2010

Marc Bookal remembered as having “one of the kindest hearts”‎

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/April/26/Bookal_funr-26Apr10.html

Hudson Valley Press

28 April 2010

Bookal laid to rest

http://www.hvpress.net/news/125/ARTICLE/9041/2010-04-28.html

Record Online

16th June 2010

Slain boy's mom admits neglect
Judge allows her to keep kids conditionally

GOSHEN — Christina Bookal admitted to a judge she should never have left her children in the care of her boyfriend, Cory Byrd.

Bookal's 4-year-old son, Marc Bookal, disappeared in December while Byrd was supposed to be looking after him. Police found Marc's lifeless body three months later, hidden in a book bag under a pile of brush down the hill from his home. Prosecutors and police have described Byrd as a "person of interest" in Marc's killing.

On Tuesday, Christina Bookal appeared in front of Family Court Judge Debra Kiedaisch to answer charges of neglect in regard to Marc and her other three children.

Marc's father, Yul Bookal, was also in the courtroom to seek custody of his 6-year-old son who lives with Christina Bookal in her Benkard Avenue home.

Christina Bookal sat next to her attorney, Geoffrey Chanin, and answered a quiet "Yes" when Kiedaisch asked whether she wanted to make any admissions. She admitted she left her children alone with Byrd even though she knew he had a violent history, including a conviction of reckless endangerment for hurting her oldest son in 1998. Byrd was also convicted of viciously beating and slashing the face of an 18-year-old in 2002.

In exchange for her admission, Kiedaisch granted Christina Bookal an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, meaning the case could be dismissed if she complies with a long list of conditions during the next 12 months. The conditions include completing a parenting class and regular in-home visits from caseworkers.

Her children will continue to live with her unless she violates those conditions. If that happens, the kids could be put into foster care.

Byrd was also set to face charges, but he's in prison on a parole violation and wasn't brought to court. The charges against him were dismissed but could be re-filed later.

After court on Tuesday, Yul Bookal said he thought the kids should have been taken away long before Marc disappeared. Now, he wants the court to give him custody of Marc's 6-year-old brother. Kiedaisch scheduled an August court date on that issue, giving Yul Bookal time to find an attorney.

"Hopefully, they'll do the right thing," Yul Bookal said.

Christina Bookal's eyes were still rimmed red from tears when she left court. She declined to say much about the case other than she was happy her children would remain with her.

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Mid-Hudson News

16 February 2011

Mother's boyfriend charged with killing her son‎