Articles Posted in Murder

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In my last blog, I told you that I would address a second issue which came to light (again) from a recent SJC decision. The decision involved a murder case and the issue of exculpatory/informant evidence that had not been disclosed to the defense.

Of course, I had also indicated that this second part of the posting would be presented on Monday. Today is Wednesday.

Hey, look…I’ve got clients to defend…!

Well that’s my perspective on that subject.

In terms of the accused in the criminal justice system, one might be surprised that the prosecution would not give all possible evidence to the defense immediately. After all, it is the defendant who is facing the loss of liberty. We have been brought up to believe that the prosecution is the good guy in the trenches. Surely, the good guys would not play dirty or try to hide evidence…right?
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Darkens Bonnett (hereinafter the “Defendant”) is a gent who stands charged and convicted of first-degree murder.

Well, at least he was.

The Defendant’s case has been remanded back to trial court to deal with a problem regarding discovery. The Supreme Judicial Court found prejudicial error in his case upon reviewing the appeal.
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The ever-photogenic Michelle Carter, the Connecticut teen accused of assisting in her boyfriend’s 2014 suicide, and hereinafter referred to as the “Defendant”, is in the news again.

You may remember the Defendant. In fact, the good folks at Altman & Altman, llp posted a blog in my absence about the case on September 9th.

In summary, the Defendant, now 18-years-old but 17 at the time at issue, is accused of involuntary manslaughter. The Commonwealth has alleged that she helped to cause the death of Conrad Roy III, although he, in fact, committed suicide.
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A man from Northampton, Massachusetts is facing charges for allegedly trying to poison and kill his sickly 7 year old daughter with drain cleaner. Reports have indicated that the young girl has been suffering from an illness for an unnamed period of time, and that this may not be the man’s first attempt at harming his daughter.

Christopher Conley, 32 years old, has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him in Hampshire Superior Court on Wednesday. He has officially been charged with attempted murder and assault and battery on a child among other charges. Following his hearing in Hampshire Superior Court, Conley was held on $100,000 bail. An additional court date has not been made available at this time.

According to preliminary reports, authorities believe that Christopher Conley poured Liquid-Plumr into a tube that connected to the young girl’s stomach. The tube connects her stomach to her intestines for an undisclosed illness she has reportedly been suffering from for quite some time. The young girl is described as being “chronically ill” and authorities believe that Conley poured the drain cleaner into the tube in an effort to end the child’s suffering. As a result of doing so, however, the young girl had to undergo a seven hour procedure in April to repair the damage the cleaner had inflicted. Doctors had to remove two-thirds of her small intestine as well as part of her bladder. She has remained hospitalized since the incident occurred. There were no apparent updates on her condition available at the time of the initial article’s release. Continue reading

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A woman who had been accused of murder in the death of a one year old child has had the charges against her dropped after spending over two years in jail. Aisling Brady McCarthy, an Irish nanny, had been arrested following the death of one year old Rehma Sabir of Cambridge in 2013. Initial reports indicated that Rehma had died from blunt-force head injuries believed to be the result of being shaken by her nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy. After reviewing additional information however, the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy of Rehma Sabir has concluded that they needed to amend the ruling on the cause of death in the matter.

According to new information being provided by the medical examiner’s office, the amended ruling for the official cause of death will now be listed as “complications of subdural hemorrhage of uncertain etiology” with the manner of death being corrected to “undetermined”. Following the altered assessment issued by the medical examiner, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has said that her office cannot meet their burden of proof for this matter and that the charges would be dropped. Aisling McCarthy had been facing a first-degree murder charge following the death of Rehma Sabir. Continue reading

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Okay, Sam, you have told us that there is a lot of pressure on the Police Department and other authorities to solve the problem of the multiple shootings from the other night. What what opportunities are you talking about? does that have to do with me?

Well, let’s start with what I have referred to as “good” opportunities.

We have many times discussed the fact that, often, when law-enforcement is trying to build a case, it accepts the word of those who, just the day before, it probably would have preferred see behind bars for the rest of his or her natural life.

Sometimes to a ridiculous extent. But I digress.
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Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh is pleading with the general public to reduce acts of violence and to help investigating officers acquire necessary information to help solve five separate shootings that took place Wednesday night. Mayor Walsh issued his statement this morning following the alarming news of these shootings that spanned across three different suburbs outside of Boston. The shootings, while unrelated, are equally disturbing in nature. In his emotionally emphatic statement, Mayor Walsh said that “I am extremely saddened and disturbed by the violence that took place overnight in our community; this has to stop.”

In light of recent events unfolding across different areas of Boston, Mayor Walsh has repeatedly called for an end to the ongoing violence. Fatal shootings in Boston have declined since those reported in previous years, but non-fatal shootings are on the rise. Mayor Walsh is working to ensure the safety of his citizens—but so far his efforts appear to be in vain. While Boston police and law enforcement agencies in the surrounding areas are working hard toward eliminating the threat of ongoing violence, the events that took place last night appear to be a setback in their efforts.

At approximately 10:20 PM in the city of Mattapan, three men were shot near 41 Hosmer Street. According to police reports, one of the victims, a man in his 20’s, died from the wounds he suffered in the shooting. The other two men who were shot at this time suffered non-life threatening wounds. No word has been given on whether or not they are cooperating with investigating officers at this time. Continue reading

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Busy night last night in the greater Boston area…in terms of shootings.

At last count, five deaths took place. Others were left wounded.

WBUR and WBZ   told me the news earlier this morning.

There were shootings at 12 Ernst Street in Roxbury. Two died earlier this morning. One neighbor told WBZ NewsRadio 1030’s Karen Twomey that the suspect in Roxbury “just came up and started shooting.” Boston police believe the victims in Roxbury were targeted and that the shooting was gang-related.

 

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As I Mentioned in my last post, I will be discussing an attempted murder case where we recently obtained a not guilty. In today’s blog, I will be discussing our client’s arrest, arraignment and the subsequent dangerousness hearing that was held prior to his release. For a recap of the facts please see my last blog. As a reminder, any and all identifying information (names, dates, locations, etc.) will be altered to protect the identity of our clients.

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Sam and I just wrapped up an attempted murder trial with a Not Guilty on all counts. Over the next couple blog posts I will be discussing various issues that came up throughout the litigation and the strategies that we used in order to put ourselves in the best position at trial. As always, any and all identifying information (names, dates, locations, etc.) will be altered to protect the identity of our clients.
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