Share and Follow
The widow of an NYPD traffic who died in a hit-and-run broke down in court earlier today as the woman accused of causing his death went on trial.
Irene Tsakos had to be temporarily escorted from Queens Supreme Court earlier today as the manslaughter trial into the death of her husband Anastasios Tsakos began.
Jessica Beauvais stands accused of killing the NYPD Highway Officer on the Long Island Expressway while intoxicated after filming a video criticizing cops as the song ‘F**k Tha Police’ played in the background.
Tsakos, 43, had been directing traffic away from a fatal crash on the highway in Queens in April 2021 when he was allegedly struck by a Beauvais’ Volkswagen.
The court heard gruesome details about Tsakos’ injuries after he was knocked out of his knee-high police-issued boots and thrown nearly 200 feet.
Anastasios Tsakos (pictured) had been directing traffic away from a fatal crash on the highway in Queens in April 2021 when he was struck by a Volkswagen
Jessica Beauvais (pictured in court today) stands accused of killing the NYPD Highway Officer on the Long Island Expressway
Irene Tsakos, the widow of Anastasios, is pictured here entering Queens Supreme Court as the trial into her husband’s death began
The New York Post reported that New York Presbyterian EMS worker Kevin Beverly told the court: ‘His face was split in two.’
Tsakos’ widow sobbed in the gallery as Beverly continued: ‘There was a lot of facial trauma, a lot of swelling, bleeding, bleeding from the ears, bruising on the neck area.
‘He had a left leg amputation below the knee halfway down.’
Tsakos’ widow was temporarily escorted out of the court room as she broke down, before prosecutors showed crime scene photos of the cop’s broken body.
The outlet reported that Tsakos’ face was covered in blood, with his eyes closed and his mouth open and stuffed with gauze, and his nose visibly broken.
Pictures of the scene show his boot laying on the road, as well as his hat – having being knocked away in the collision.
The Post also reported that, during opening arguments Assistant District Attorney Greg Lasak Jr. said: ‘His organs and bones were crushed. His leg was amputated. He landed 171 feet from impact.
‘She left him there on the side of the road to die, without his leg.’
Beauvais is facing 13 charges including manslaughter in the second degree, with prosecutors saying she was high on drugs and had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when she is alleged to have hit Tsakos
The court heard gruesome details about Tsakos’ injuries after he was knocked out of his knee-high police-issued boots (pictured) and thrown nearly 200 feet
The hat that Tsakos had been wearing is seen here on the left in evidence pictures taken the night he lost his life
Tsakos was temporarily escorted out of the court room as she broke down, before prosecutors showed crime scene photos of the cop’s broken body
Beauvais is facing 13 charges including manslaughter in the second degree, with prosecutors saying she was high on drugs and had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when she is alleged to have hit Tsakos.
On the night of the crash, Beauvais filmed herself in a Facebook livestream where she addressed the trial of white ex-cop Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
During the livestream, she slammed police officers and the justice system, and played N.W.A song ‘F**k Tha Police’.
Throughout the video, Beauvais is seen vaping and drinking an unknown dark liquid from a plastic cup and, at one point, washes down the contents of a red shot glass with a bottle of Snapple.
Beauvais also claimed that if she ever had a fatal encounter with police, she would make sure she wasn’t the only victim.
‘Like (hip hop group) NWA say about the police – if you’re going to kill me, at least I get to take someone with me,’ she told listeners.
Read Related Also: Hamas attack at music festival led to chaos and frantic attempts to escape or hide
‘I’m one of those people. If I’m going to go, someone is coming.’
Beauvais posted a 1 hour and 51 minute livestream on her Facebook page. At one point, she washes down the contents of a red shot glass (above)
Investigators survey the vehicle that struck and killed New York City Police Department Officer Anastasios Tsakos
Beauvais then allegedly got behind the wheel of her Volkswagen and plowed into Tsakos on the Long Island Expressway in the early hours of the morning.
Lasak also told the court: ‘She admitted during the podcast to taking a shot. She admitted after the podcast she had another shot of liquor.
‘Her eyes were bloodshot and watery, she was unstable on her feet and her speech was slurred.
‘In her cup holder was a pink liquid. A strong mixed drink. In her other cup holder in the center console was an ashtray containing cannabis.’
The Post reported that her attorney, Jorge Santos, at one point told Jurors: ‘If Officer Tsakos had not stepped into my client’s car he would be alive today.’
This was immediately met with an objection from prosecutors, and the judge had the remark struck from the record.
Beauvais is facing the possibility of up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the charges.
Tsakos grew up in Greece and New York City, before serving in the Greek army after high school
After being arrested, Beauvais is alleged to have whined to fellow cops in a squad car, saying: ‘Why did my first accident have to be a cop?’
‘Not that I wanted it to be someone else, but f**k, I’ve been driving since I was 16 and haven’t hit as much as a pothole,’ she was quoted as saying.
As she was being taken to be arraigned from a police precinct in May 2021, she sobbed to reporters, saying: ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I hit him and now he’s dead.’
Tsakos, affectionately know as ‘Tasso,’ was a married father of two and had just recently moved to the East Northport neighborhood in Suffolk County before his death.
He grew up in Greece and New York City, before serving in the Greek army after high school.
Tsakos went on to work in his father’s diner on Long Island, before studying aviation in college to follow his dreams of flying helicopters for the NYPD.
At his funeral, Tsakos was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective as hundreds of mourners paid their respect.
Police officers carry the casket of Tsakos. His work and personal motorcycles were also taken to the service for the keen motorcyclist
Irene (pictured with their two young children) paid tribute to her husband saying she hoped she ‘did him proud’
Tsakos’ wife was supported by her husband’s family who flew from Greece
Then NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced he was promoting Tsakos to detective first grade, presenting his widow with a gold detective shield.
Shea also praised the officer who had made nearly 200 arrests during his career, and would actively chase down drunk drivers in the pursuit of justice.
Tsakos’ widow also gave an emotional speech to mourners inside the church where she told how he was an adoring father to their children.
‘I will miss everything about him. Everything. Most of all, I will miss his hugs,’ she said at the service.
‘I wish he had more time – to watch our kids grow, see them off to college and get married. I wish we could grow old together. That was the plan. But he was taken from us too soon.’
