It will be the first time Lapointe, 69, is out of the custody of police or prison guards since he was charged in 1989 with the rape and murder two years earlier of Bernice Martin, his then-wife's 88-year old grandmother.
Date: Apr 10, 2015
Category: U.S.
Source: Google
Court orders new trial for brain-damaged man convicted of killing wife's grandma ...
At his trial in 1992, Lapointe was convicted of killing Bernice Martin, who was found stabbed, raped and strangled in her burning Manchester apartment. A judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of release.Assistant State's Attorney Timothy Sugrue argued there was plenty of other proof, including Lapointe's confession, physical evidence including a semen stain and pubic hair and his telling a family friend that Bernice Martin had been raped before police had any information of a sexual assault.
Lapointe, 67, has been in prison for more than two decades for the killing of Bernice Martin, who was found raped, stabbed and strangled in her burning Manchester apartment on March 8, 1987. He was convicted in 1992 of murder, sexual assault, arson and other crimes, with key evidence including his c
state Appellate Court last year overturned the brain-damaged man's convictions and ordered a new trial, saying prosecutors suppressed evidence that may have supported an alibi for Lapointe. Lapointe's supporters say he could not have committed the killing of Bernice Martin in her Manchester apartment.
On Monday, the state Appellate Court ruled that prosecutors suppressed key evidence during Lapointe's trial that may have supported an alibi that he was home watching television when Bernice Martin was killed. Martin was found raped, stabbed and strangled in her burning Manchester apartment.A relative called Karen Martin at about 8 p.m. that night, concerned that Bernice Martin wasn't answering the phone. Lapointe went over to check on Bernice Martin at the relative's request and called 911 when he saw smoke. He was there when firefighters and paramedics arrived.
Date: Oct 02, 2012
Category: U.S.
Source: Google
Conn. court orders new trial for brain-damaged man convicted of killing 88 ...
Defense lawyers said Lapointe didnt kill Bernice Martin and only went over to her house to check on her at the request of a concerned relative, after the fire had been set. His lawyers said he watched TV while his wife put Sean to bed, and she found him in front of the television set when she came Bernice Martins daughter, Natalie Howard, called Karen Martin, her niece, at about 8 p.m. that night, concerned that her mother wasnt answering the phone. Lapointe went over to check on Bernice Martin at Howards request and called 911 when he saw smoke. He was there when firefighters and paramedi
Police and prosecutors said that Lapointe, while his wife got their son ready for bed on the night of March 8, 1987, walked to Bernice Martin's home. Authorities said Lapointe threw her on her bed and raped her, then stabbed her with a steak knife and strangled her after she threatened to tell Karen