Homicide Watch Boston

Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All cases are heard at Suffolk Superior Court, located at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston, Mass.

On Tuesday, July 29, Olivia Mora, 37, charged with the November 2013 vehicular homicide of 7-year-old Brianna Rosales, will appear for a pretrial conference.

On Thursday, July 31, Omar Bonner, 26, accused of killing 25-year-old Romeo McCubbin in December 2013, will appear for a motion to compel discovery hearing on the admission of DNA evidence.

His alleged accomplices Omar Denton, 30, and Javaine Watson, 23, will appear for motion hearings as well.

Andrew “Spoilers” Robertson, 38, who was also implicated in McCubbin’s death, will appear for a status review hearing.

Ian Holness, 27, accused of killing 36-year-old Rashaan O’Neil on Christmas day last year, will appear for a motion hearing.

Please remember that all hearings are subject to change, even at the last minute. To confirm the time and date of homicide trial hearings, call the criminal clerk’s office at (617) 788-8160.

In brief:

There were no homicides reported this week in Boston.

On Monday, July 21, Peter Carvalho, 25, was arraigned on first-degree murder charges for the May 2014 shooting death of Shannon Richardson Jr., also 25. He will return to court on Aug. 7, 2014.

On Friday, July 25, Dervin Hibbert, 53, was arraigned on charges of manslaughter by motor vehicle and motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence for killing pedestrian Walter C. Harris, 48, in November 2013. He will return to court on Sept. 9, 2014.

Boston Magazine this week profiled Greg Diatchenko, 50, who was found guilty of murder at 17.

Wearing a crisply pressed blue button-down and jeans, Greg Diatchenko could be a suburban dad arriving for a parent-teacher conference. The 50-year-old murderer walks into a sunny conference room at the medium-security state prison in Norfolk, his cheeks freshly shaven, his glasses silver, his eyes blue-green. It’s a warm day in April, and he awkwardly scans to the scrum of people waiting there for him — the prison’s press director, a correctional officer, his lawyer, me — to figure out where to sit. When he shakes my hand, his palms are callused, his fingernails trimmed to the quick. I know he’s nervous, because his lawyer told me. But he just seems thoughtful, reflective, sincere.

Diatchenko’s lawyer has serious reservations about his speaking with a journalist. But Diatchenko hopes his story can help the other 62 Massachusetts inmates who, like him, were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed when they were still too young to vote. His lawyer sits in on our 90-minute conversation, occasionally shutting down certain avenues of questioning, and Diatchenko heeds his advice not to talk about the brutal crime that landed him in here.

Read more

Authorities have decided not to charge Boston police officers with the fatal shooting of Ross Batista, 38, of Roxbury.

An independent review of the evidence showed the two responding officers were acting in self defense, authorities said. Batista was killed in June 2013 after exchanging gunfire with a pedestrian.

A press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office below.
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A Mattapan man accused of killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol last November answered to a felony charge in a Suffolk Superior Courtroom Friday.

Dervin Hibbert, 53, pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter in connection with the death of 48-year-old Walter C. Harris, also of Mattapan.

On the evening of Nov. 23, 2013, Harris was standing on the sidewalk of Cummins Highway near Ridlon Road when Hibbert’s car pulled into the parking lane, then accelerated in reverse, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Mingo said. According to witnesses, Hibbert was driving so fast that he tore a fire hydrant out of its mounting. His vehicle edged up onto the sidewalk, striking Harris and dragging him for several car lengths. Harris died instantly.
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**Update (7/21/2014): Authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating a dark-colored, newer-model Ford Explorer with a sun roof. Anyone with information is urged to call the Boston Police Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470.**

**Update (7/20/2014): Friends have identified the victim of this homicide as Niko E. Nunez, 20, of South End. Read more about Nunez here.**

A man who was found shot early Saturday morning in the South End has died, authorities said.

In the early hours of Saturday, July 19, Boston police responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 68 Aguadilla St. in the South End. Upon arrival, police discovered a man suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The victim, believed to be in his early 20s, was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he later died.

A full update from BPD after the jump.
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Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All cases are heard at Suffolk Superior Court, located at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston, Mass.

On Monday, July 21, Peter Carvalho, 25, will be arraigned for the May 2014 murder of Shannon Richardson Jr., also 25.

On Tuesday, July 22, Elosko Brown, 28, charged with the July 2013 murder of 19-year-old Joseph A. Morante, will appear for a motion to suppress hearing.

Brian MacDonald, 26, accused of killing 21-year-old Anthony Spaulding in January 2013, will appear for a motion hearing.

Elias Sanchez, 44, accused of killing 29-year-old Edwin M. Santos in November 2013, will appear for a pretrial hearing.

Elias’ 17-year-old son Angel R. Sanchez and his 33-year-old brother Gabriel Sanchez, both of whom are implicated in the murder, will appear for pretrial hearings as well.

Please remember that all hearings are subject to change, even at the last minute. To confirm the time and date of homicide trial hearings, call the criminal clerk’s office at (617) 788-8160.

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week in Boston.

- Early Saturday morning, an unidentified male in his 20s was shot to death in the area of 68 Aguadilla Street in the South End. Authorities have not released any further details at this time.

The Boston Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470.

Update (7/21/2014): Carvalho is currently being held without bail. He will return to court for a bail review hearing on Aug. 7, 2014.

Peter Carvalho, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the May 2014 death of Shannon Richardson Jr., also 25.

Carvalho is accused of shooting Richardson several times in the back as he walked in the Dudley Street area of Dorchester. Police later found Richardson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a local store. He was then taken to Boston Medical Center, where he eventually died.

Prosecutors contend Carvalho, a Dorchester native, and Richardson were once friends. In addition to the murder charge, Carvalho is accused of unlawful possession of both a firearm and ammunition.

He will return to court July 21, 2014.

A press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office below.
Read more

Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All cases are heard at Suffolk Superior Court, located at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston, Mass.

On Tuesday, July 15, Kewon “Killer” Kelley, 27, accused of killing Rayshawn Lamont Few, also 27, in February 2013, will appear for a compliance hearing.

Please remember that all hearings are subject to change, even at the last minute. To confirm the time and date of homicide trial hearings, call the criminal clerk’s office at (617) 788-8160.