Rollins: Suspect in East Boston murder will be held without bail

BOSTON, December 29, 2020 — Arraignments took place yesterday in two Suffolk County courts in connection with separate Christmas Eve attacks.  In a Roxbury courtroom, a man was arraigned in the near-fatal beating of a senior citizen inside the victim’s own home, while the man charged with killing 28-year-old Kerwide Barthelemy as the victim attempted to break up a fight faced arraignment in East Boston.

During a proceeding conducted via Zoom, WYSE RICHARDSON, 23, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and battery on a person over 60 and aggravated burglary.  Judge Debra Delvecchio of the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court ordered Mr. Richardson to undergo an evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.

Mr. Richardson is accused of breaking into a Pompeii Street apartment building and violently beating a 66-year-old resident and ransacking the man’s apartment at approximately 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve.  The victim suffered a serious head injury and was transported to an area hospital.  The victim remains hospitalized.  Based on the severity of the victim’s injuries, the case is under investigation by detectives assigned to the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit.

In a separate, telephonic proceeding in the East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court, STEVEN HATFIELD, 36, was arraigned on a charge of murder in Mr. Barthelemy’s December 24, 2020, stabbing death in Maverick Square.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Amy Martin, Judge John McDonald ordered Hatfield held without bail and ordered that he stay away from and have no contact with witnesses in the case or the victim’s family.

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Mr. Hatfield became involved in a physical altercation with another individual in the area of Maverick Square in East Boston.  When Mr. Barthelemy attempted to intervene, Mr. Hatfield allegedly stabbed him in the torso, mortally wounding the victim.

Mr. Hatfield, who had blood on his clothing from the attack, fled into his South Bremen Street apartment building.  Inside the building, he began to yell and behave in a manner that prompted the building’s security guard to call police.  Boston Police who responded to the stabbing also arrived at the building after learning that the assailant resided there.

“The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness.  For a loved one’s life to be ripped away on Christmas Eve inflicts additional pain during this already challenging time,” District Attorney Rollins said.  “The violence these two men are accused of inflicting is deeply troubling. Each will be held accountable for their actions.  Just as importantly, my staff and I are here to ensure that Mr. Barthelemy’s loved ones as well as the Roxbury man currently fighting for his life and his loved ones have the services they deserve and may require at every step of their path in the legal process and on their journey toward healing.”

Elise McConnell and Anite Cetoute are the assigned victim witness advocates.  Attorney Joseph Simons represents Mr. Hatfield.  His case returns to court January 28, 2021.  Mr. Richardson was represented at arraignment by Byron Knight.  The case returns to court January 15, 2021.