Tuesday, July 10, 2012

** New Hampshire man to plead insanity defence in murder of EMT

** Texas man threatens medics with rifle

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A New Hampshire man charged with stabbing to death a Nashua EMT on October 9th of last year may plead insanity. That is the word from the Union Leader Correspondent (Kimberly Houghton/July 6) which said counsel for Matthew Packer, 19, have filed of motion of intent switching from an initial self defence strategy. According to the newspaper, Packer stands accused of killing medic Paul Frontiero III after the latter stepped in to defend two women being held at knife point. Both women were injured in the attack. Frontiero died after suffering a punctured heart, as well as wounds to his left lung, left kidney, diaphragm and spleen. Packer claimed he went on his rampage after being struck in the ear during an earlier fracas. Along with tags for murder, he has also been charged with first degree assault x 2, second degree assault, and attempted murder. Jury selection for Packer’s trial will take place next April.

** A Texas man has been charged with felony aggravated assault on a public servant after allegedly chasing responding paramedics with a rifle. Your Houston News (Stefanie Thomas/July 9) said Kingwood resident Donald Roy Houle, 59, remains in jail pending the posting of a $30,000 bond. According to the news site, Houle menaced medics last Saturday around 9:50 a.m. when an EMS crew was hailed to attend a drunk man with a health condition. Once on-scene, Houle allegedly pointed a rifle at them, causing them to flee the residence and their ambulance. Houle then removed the keys from the EMS rig. Police retrieved them and disarmed Houle after wrestling him to the ground.