There currently is no state death penalty in Massachusetts, life without the possibilty of parole being the only punishment for first-degree murder. The federal government prosecutes capital cases within Massachusetts, however.

On November 7, 2007, House lawmakers again overwhelmingly rejected a bill to reinstate the death penalty by a vote of 46 - 110. Two years earlier in 2005, the House defeated Governor Romney's legislation 53 - 100. Continue reading for a full Massachusetts history.

vacanos previously said:

Poor man after being in this country for over 20 years doing the right thing to gives his kids the best opportunity possible. He is cut down by some thugs; a product of the system we live today all across this nation. God bless his soul.



Passport photo


Richel Nova


Three people accused of murdering pizza deliveryman Richel Nova had ruthlessly planned to murder him when he arrived at a derelict Hyde Park house last Thursday night, a Suffolk prosecutor said in court today.

"It was never their intention that Richel Nova would leave that home in any other way than a body bag,'' Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman said at the West Roxbury Municipal Court arraignment.

Alexander Gallett, 18, of Hyde Park; Michel St. Jean, 20 of Hyde Park; and Yamiley Mathurin, 17, of Mattapan all pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder before Judge Kathleen Coffey. The judge ordered all three held without bail.

Coffey also ordered the defendants to appear in the courtroom, which was overflowing with relatives and friends of 58-year-old Nova, many carrying signs calling for "Justice for Richel.''

Defense attorneys for the two men and Mathurin did not challenge Hickman's summary of the case against their clients.

Hickman alleged that Mathurin borrowed a phone from a neighbor on Hyde Park Avenue and called the Domino's pizza shop that Nova worked for. She asked whether the deliveryman would be able to change a large bill, and was told that he only carried $20 in change, Hickman said.





Pat Greenhouse / Globe Staff


Michel St. Jean

Although Mathurin called the pizza shop using the neighbor's phone, she allegedly gave St. Jean's cellphone number for the pizza shop to call if there were any problems.

When Nova arrived at the 742 Hyde Park Ave. house, Mathurin met him and then lured him inside, telling him she had to get her wallet. Once inside, the conspirators attacked Nova, stabbing him repeatedly in the chest and back while also slashing his neck, Hickman said.

Using the cellphone number left with the pizza shop, police tracked down St. Jean. Once he started being questioned by detectives, he identified his alleged co-conspirators, Hickman said. She also said that surveillance video shows Nova arriving at the house, and later captured the three suspects leaving the area.

They allegedly drove off in Nova's Subaru Legacy, which was recovered at a church parking lot on River Street.

Hickman said Nova was robbed of cash -- and the pizza he was hired to deliver. Hickman said the pizza box -- stained with blood on the exterior -- was found stashed underneath a car parked near where the Subaru was recovered last Thursday. Three slices of pizza remained in the box, Hickman said.

Nova was the father of three adult children, including twin sisters, relatives have said.






The three defendants in the murder of Richel Nova appear in West Roxbury Municipal Court with their attorneys. In white clothing is Michel St. Jean flanked by his attorney Jeffrey T. Karp. Yamiley Mathurin is in the middle with her attorney, Steven J. Sack. Alexander Gallett stands near his attorney Peter B. Krupp. All three pleaded not guilty.

vacanos previously said:

Poor man after being in this country for over 20 years doing the right thing to gives his kids the best opportunity possible. He is cut down by some thugs; a product of the system we live today all across this nation. God bless his soul.



Passport photo


Richel Nova


Three people accused of murdering pizza deliveryman Richel Nova had ruthlessly planned to murder him when he arrived at a derelict Hyde Park house last Thursday night, a Suffolk prosecutor said in court today.

"It was never their intention that Richel Nova would leave that home in any other way than a body bag,'' Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman said at the West Roxbury Municipal Court arraignment.

Alexander Gallett, 18, of Hyde Park; Michel St. Jean, 20 of Hyde Park; and Yamiley Mathurin, 17, of Mattapan all pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder before Judge Kathleen Coffey. The judge ordered all three held without bail.

Coffey also ordered the defendants to appear in the courtroom, which was overflowing with relatives and friends of 58-year-old Nova, many carrying signs calling for "Justice for Richel.''

Defense attorneys for the two men and Mathurin did not challenge Hickman's summary of the case against their clients.

Hickman alleged that Mathurin borrowed a phone from a neighbor on Hyde Park Avenue and called the Domino's pizza shop that Nova worked for. She asked whether the deliveryman would be able to change a large bill, and was told that he only carried $20 in change, Hickman said.





Pat Greenhouse / Globe Staff


Michel St. Jean

Although Mathurin called the pizza shop using the neighbor's phone, she allegedly gave St. Jean's cellphone number for the pizza shop to call if there were any problems.

When Nova arrived at the 742 Hyde Park Ave. house, Mathurin met him and then lured him inside, telling him she had to get her wallet. Once inside, the conspirators attacked Nova, stabbing him repeatedly in the chest and back while also slashing his neck, Hickman said.

Using the cellphone number left with the pizza shop, police tracked down St. Jean. Once he started being questioned by detectives, he identified his alleged co-conspirators, Hickman said. She also said that surveillance video shows Nova arriving at the house, and later captured the three suspects leaving the area.

They allegedly drove off in Nova's Subaru Legacy, which was recovered at a church parking lot on River Street.

Hickman said Nova was robbed of cash -- and the pizza he was hired to deliver. Hickman said the pizza box -- stained with blood on the exterior -- was found stashed underneath a car parked near where the Subaru was recovered last Thursday. Three slices of pizza remained in the box, Hickman said.

Nova was the father of three adult children, including twin sisters, relatives have said.






The three defendants in the murder of Richel Nova appear in West Roxbury Municipal Court with their attorneys. In white clothing is Michel St. Jean flanked by his attorney Jeffrey T. Karp. Yamiley Mathurin is in the middle with her attorney, Steven J. Sack. Alexander Gallett stands near his attorney Peter B. Krupp. All three pleaded not guilty.