(Boston) — On February 7, 2008, Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye media lawyers Elizabeth Duffy and Rob Bertsche achieved an unusual legal victory on behalf of the firm’s client, The Eagle Tribune, which had been barred from the arraignment of a teenager charged with murdering his mental health counselor Wednesday night. Staff members Janna Knight and Caroline Brea played key roles in the successful last-minute appeal to the state’s highest court, which is featured in an article in the February 8 Eagle Tribune newspaper.
The front-page story in the Eagle-Tribune, written by staff writer Crystal Bozek, provides details of the slaying as outlined by the prosecution and defense at the hospital-room arraignment. Among the details the newspaper would not otherwise have learned:
· The victim, psychotherapist Diruhi Mattian, “had been treating Belanger for bipolar disorder and helping him cope with the trauma of the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his father, Belanger's lawyer James Krasnoo said.”
· Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick “said Mattian went to the apartment Wednesday night after being called by Belanger's sister or aunt, asking for help. The children's mother was in the hospital and the two were home alone.”
· “Mattian was able to call 911 after the stabbing, and said ‘He hit me. Help me. I am feeling faint.’ Police found the 53-year-old Mattian of Wilmington in the doorway, lying face up and slouched.”
· “Belanger was found in the bedroom where he had gone to slit his throat, Strasnick said.”
· “On Thursday afternoon during the arraignment, a thin line was visible on Belanger's neck as he lay chained to the hospital bed. He remained calm throughout the seven-minute proceeding.”
· “Krasnoo said his client has "a lack of awareness" of what happened to himself and the victim.”
· “He said Belanger is not the teen's original family name. It was legally changed after his father was imprisoned for the abuse against him.”
· “Belanger had no family in the hospital room at the time of the arraignment.”
The Eagle-Tribune also published a story noting Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye’s legal fight on its behalf. See “Eagle-Tribune Wins Fight to Observe Arraignment,” http://www.eagletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_039053857.html .
