I was going to save this for Father's Day; however, I plan to be done with the Globe long before then.
"Mark Kerrigan found guilty on lesser charge; Convicted of assault, not manslaughter, in father’s death" May 26, 2011|By David Abel, Globe Staff
WOBURN — “There are no winners here,’’ Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Keeley said....
“When a defendant commits criminal conduct the way this defendant did, they need to be held responsible and accountable, and this verdict holds Mark Kerrigan accountable and responsible for beating his 70-year-old father,’’ Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. said at a press conference at the courthouse....
Of course, if you are a war-criminal liar and leader who has ordered the the murder of millions as well as torture you can go out to a baseball game.
Prosecutors had argued that Mark Kerrigan, 46, fought with his father in a late-night, alcohol-fueled argument over the use of the family’s telephone....
After the verdict, Leone said, “If it were not for the actions of this defendant, we would not be here today, and Mr. Kerrigan would not have died in the manner that he did on the floor of his home. This verdict speaks to the actions of an angry, belligerent, highly intoxicated 45-year-old man who cared more about himself and his selfish desires than his 70-year-old father.’’
Defense attorney Janice Bassil of Boston said in her closing argument that the prosecution had failed to prove its case....
Police were first called to the family’s house early in the evening of Jan. 23, 2010, after a woman said Mark Kerrigan was harassing her and would not allow her to leave, prosecutors said....
Over the next several hours, prosecutors said Mark Kerrigan guzzled a bottle of Scotch and repeatedly argued with his parents, who refused to allow him to use the phone to call the woman.
They said that sometime after midnight, Mark Kerrigan began screaming obscenities and yelling about the telephone not working. His parents, who were asleep, put on their clothes and went downstairs to the kitchen to talk to their son....
The defendant’s sister, former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and her mother Brenda, attended every moment of the nine-day trial and supported Mark despite the charges brought after the death of 70-year-old Daniel Kerrigan.
“My family has never believed at all that my brother had anything to do with my father’s death,’’ Nancy Kerrigan said outside the courthouse, as she clutched her mother’s arm. “My dad never would have wanted any of this.’’
Then why was this tragic case brought to court?
--more--"
Related:
Mark Kerrigan is given maximum sentence
Globe Editorial Not just a family affair
Why am I wasting time on this?
