Slayings Same Day Boston Names New Commissioner

Young Kim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:00:04 -0400

Jan. 9 marked the first two homicides of 2014, the same day Mayor Martin Walsh appointed Boston police veteran William Evans as the department’s commissioner.

William Earl, 20, pleaded innocent to fatally stabbing Samuel Constant, 19, on Margaretta Drive in Hyde Park. A witness told the Boston Globe that Earl stabbed Constant during an argument.

"I killed someone and that's what you're going to find," Earl said to a responding officer, according to police reports.

Earl was placed in custody and taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital for minor injuries.

"I just want to know if he is dead," Earl said to an officer who remained with him at the hospital, according to police reports.

Earl was held without bail and a probable cause hearing is set for Feb. 10.

Later that night in Roslindale, 18-year-old Brandon John was shot several times on the street and pronounced dead at the scene. Police are continuing to investigate for suspects and motives.

There is no indication that the shooting was linked to the Hyde Park stabbing, according to the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.

Released by the Suffolk County district attorney’s office on Jan. 10, 2014:

Man, 20, Charged in Fatal Hyde Park Stabbing
BOSTON, Jan. 10, 2014—A Mattapan man was held without bail today in the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old male on Margaretta Drive yesterday evening, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

WILLIAM EARL (D.O.B. 8/9/93) was arraigned on one count of murder for the slaying. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Tara Burdman, West Roxbury Municipal Court Judge Ernest Sarason ordered Earl held without bail.

Burdman told the court that Boston Police responded to the scene at about 6:00 to find the victim deceased at the scene and Earl being detained by security guards. The defendant, who was suffering from minor injuries, was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for treatment. Based on witness interviews and his own statements to investigators, Earl was placed under arrest.

The victim has been tentatively identified, but his name is not being released until it can be confirmed and his family can be fully notified.

The Margaretta Drive homicide is not believed to be related to a fatal shooting on Rowe Street in Roslindale about five hours later. The victim in that case has likewise been identified but family notifications are still under way.

The public’s help is essential in identifying violent offenders and proving their guilt in court. Anyone with information on either of last night’s homicides is asked to contact Boston Police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470.

Earl was represented today by attorney Kelli Porges. He will return to court on Feb. 10.

Stabbing suspect indicted for killing Samuel Constant

Nicholas Jacques — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:16:35 -0500

William Earl was officially indicted for first-degree murder Friday for the fatal January stabbing of 19-year-old Samuel Constant, prosecutors said.

Earl, 20, was arraigned Jan. 10 in West Roxbury District Court. Friday's indictment moves the case to Suffolk Superior Court.

Earl allegedly stabbed Constant multiple times outside of Constant’s girlfriend’s Hyde Park apartment, according to prosecutors' official statement of the case. Responders found Constant with stab wounds to his face and chest area, and pronounced him dead at the scene.

An autopsy determined Constant died of the stab wounds, prosecutors said.

Earl was arrested shortly after the alleged attack and allegedly confessed to a security guard who apprehended him.

“I just killed someone, and if you walk straight ahead, you’re going to find something,” prosecutors allege Earl said to the Longwood Security officer.

Constant’s girlfriend allegedly witnessed the beginning of the purported Jan. 9 attack inside her Margaretta Drive apartment, according the official allegations.

The girlfriend allegedly found Earl with Constant when she arrived home from work, the documents says. Earl, who she did not know, was allegedly “acting in an odd manner that made her feel uncomfortable,” according to the court document.

Earl and Constant allegedly began to fight after Earl pulled out a knife and began acting in a way that made Constant’s girlfriend feel threatened, prosecutors say.

During the alleged fight, Earl tried to stab Constant and his girlfriend, the official allegations say. The girlfriend told authorities she opened the apartment door, and Earl ran out with Constant chasing him.

A witness outside saw the two men running and one of them collapse in the parking lot outside the apartment building, according to prosecutors.

Earl allegedly continued to run down the road, where a security guard spotted him attempting to stop traffic on Margaretta Drive near Crowne Point Drive, prosecutors said.

The guard apprehended Earl while he was trying to flee into the woods, the allegations say.

Earl allegedly told detectives he had been attacked, and claimed he had been stabbed and shot, prosecutors say. Earl denied to the police that he knew someone named Sam, and said he did not remember what happened that night because he was high, the state’s allegations say.

Investigators allegedly found Earl’s phone in a search of the Margaretta Drive apartment.

Earl pleaded innocent to the charges at his district court arraignment. He has been held without bail ever since. His attorney, Anthony Fugate, did not respond to a request for comment.

Constant's death was Boston's first homicide of 2014.

From the Suffolk district attorney's office, Feb. 21, 2014:

BOSTON, Feb. 21, 2014—The Mattapan man charged in last month’s stabbing death of 19-year-old Samuel Constant has been indicted for first-degree murder and will remain held without bail pending trial, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

WILLIAM EARL (D.O.B. 8/9/93) was arraigned yesterday on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Jan. 9 fatal stabbing in West Roxbury. Constant’s murder marked Boston’s first homicide of 2014.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Tara Burdman, Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson ordered that Earl continue to be held without bail, as he has since his arraignment last month in West Roxbury District Court. Yesterday’s arraignment moves the case from the district court to Suffolk Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated.

Burdman told the court that, on the day of the killing, Constant’s girlfriend arrived at her apartment to find the victim and the defendant, whom she did not know. Constant and Earl became involved in a physical struggle after Earl allegedly pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed at Constant, who attempted to dodge the knife, prosecutors said. Earl then ran from the apartment and Constant chased after him onto Margaretta Drive.

During the altercation, Burdman said, Constant suffered multiple stab wounds that perforated his lung and an artery. He collapsed in parking lot and died of his injuries.
Earl was apprehended by a Longwood Security officer patrolling the area and was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for treatment of injuries to his left ear and head.

Jen Sears is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Earl is represented by Anthony Fugate.

A copy of Earl's indictment has been added below.

Samuel Constant | Homicide Watch Boston

Slayings Same Day Boston Names New Commissioner

Stabbing suspect indicted for killing Samuel Constant