Former Police Chief Found Not Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter

Former Pelham Police Chief, Edward Fleury, was found not guilty of four charges, including involuntary manslaughter, by a Hamden Superior Court jury on 01/14/11. The jurors deliberated for one and and a half days. Fleury was charged after an 8-year-old boy was killed while shooting an Uzi submachine gun at a gun fair organized by Fleury. Fleury was represented by Attorney Rosemary Scapicchio who argued that Fleury was not criminally responsible for the boys death. Read the story below.

-Attorney Gomes

By Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD -- A Massachusetts jury acquitted a gun fair organizer of manslaughter in the 2008 death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi submachine gun.

A Hampden Superior Court jury found former Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury not guilty on Friday of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn. The charge carried up to 20 years on prison.

Fleury was also cleared of three charges of furnishing machine guns to minors. The jury returned the verdict on its first full day of deliberations. It got the case on Thursday after closing arguments.

You Don't Have To Be 75 To Have a Will!

Most of my friends are in their mid to late 30s and haven't even thought about drafting a will. However, this is the best time to think about estate planning. Many of us are purchasing new homes, having children, and investing in the stock market through our employers. These changes are all reasons to have a will drafted, as well as a health care proxy and a power of attorney.

Many people think that because they don't own any major assets that they don't need a will. However, that is not the case. A will can protect your child's interest if something were to happen to you or your partner. Through a will, you can designate who you would want to care for your child.

Two Men Charged With Murder in Lowell

One woman was killed and eight others were injured at a New Year's Party in Lowell. Jameson Phuon and Sothy Voeun were each charged with murder for the death of Corinna Ouer. Both men are alleged to have gang relations. The two suspects were held by the court without bail after being arraigned in the Lowell District Court. Read the Boston Globe article below.

-Attorney Gomes

By Brian R. Ballou and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Two Lowell men who had been kicked out of a New Year's party returned dressed in the colors of their gang and armed with rifles, then fired into the crowd, killing one young woman and injuring seven others, a prosecutor said today at the men's arraignment.

Jameson Phuon, 20, and Sothy Voeun, 19, pleaded not guilty in Lowell District Court. Each faces one count of murder in the slaying of Corinna Ouer, 20, of Lowell. They were ordered held without bail and a status hearing was set for Jan. 19.

Lowell police discovered the eight shooting victims when they responded to a report of shots fired at 104 Grand St. at 1:20 a.m. on Jan. 1, prosecutors said.

Assistant Middlesex District Attorney Cara Krysil, outlining the government's case, said Phuon and someone at the party in the basement apartment had a gang-related argument that led to Phuon and Voeun being kicked out sometime after midnight. The two men fired shots into the air after they left. Police came and found no one in the vicinity and left.