More than 1,200 New Bedford cases, and nearly 3,700 for all of Bristol County, could result in refunds as part of the class action suit, filed in 2019.
Category: Crime and courts
Posted inCrime and courts
Thomas Koonce, convicted in 1987 murder of New Bedford man, to be released from prison
The Parole Board said Koonce has “taken responsibility for the death of Mr. Santos and has spent his incarceration working towards his rehabilitation,” describing him as “remorseful and empathetic towards the Santos family and the community.”
Posted inCrime and courts
Witness to aftermath of City Councilor Hugh Dunn’s car crash dies
Dunn was originally scheduled to appear in New Bedford District Court for his bench trial on March 22, which has since been delayed until June 3.
Posted inCrime and courts
New Bedford Light calls out silence on health care exec
Editor’s note: CommonWealth Magazine wrote about The Light’s efforts to report on the criminal case and employment status of former SouthCoast Health President and CEO Keith A. Hovan. We are republishing their story in today’s New Bedford Light, with permission from CommonWealth Magazine.
Posted inCrime and courts
Questions persist in case of former Southcoast Health President Keith Hovan
“The only way we can make sure that these hearings are operating in a fair and just way is if the public is able to oversee them in a way where the court is accountable for the decisions it makes.” — Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition.
Posted inCrime and courts
Commutation votes put convicted killers Koonce and Allen closer to freedom
“I spent months reviewing these cases, including the circumstances of the two terrible crimes and the actions of the two men since. I believe both men have taken responsibility for their actions and have paid their debt …” — Gov. Charlie Baker
Posted inCrime and courts
Wrongfully convicted drug defendants to wait longer for share of $10 million payback
State officials have agreed as many as 40,000 defendants are entitled to be reimbursed after their convictions were vacated, the bulk in 2017 and 2018, by the Supreme Judicial Court due to rampant misconduct at two state labs that tested evidence for their cases.
Posted inCrime and courts
Wrongfully convicted drug defendants await possible $10M payback
More than 1,200 New Bedford cases, and nearly 3,700 for all of Bristol County, could result in refunds as part of a class action suit filed in 2019 after the Supreme Judicial Court had vacated many convictions.
Posted inCrime and courts
New Bedford murder victim’s family opposes killer’s commutation
About a dozen speakers testified in favor the commutation bid, including Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn and Conan Harris, a formerly incarcerated man who today is married to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.
Posted inCrime and courts
March 22 bench trial set for New Bedford Ward 3 City Councilor Hugh Dunn
Dunn faces charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of property damage and operating a motor vehicle negligently, following a downtown car crash.