FROM THE REGION.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

COLUMN: FROM THE REGION

Worcester

Jury selection continues in Milford murder case

WORCESTER - Jury selection was scheduled to resume today for the trial of a Milford man charged in a fatal stabbing three years ago.

Patrick I. Powell, 19, is under indictment on a charge of murder in the Jan. 6, 2006, stabbing death of 21-year-old Daniel Columbo during a fight outside Mr. Columbo's home on Carroll Street in Milford. Mr. Columbo died from a single stab wound to the chest allegedly inflicted by Mr. Powell, who was 16 at the time.

Mr. Powell's lawyer, John G. Swomley, said during a pretrial hearing in the Worcester Superior Court case that he expected the evidence to show his client acted in self-defense and in defense of another. Another Milford man, 19-year-old Vinnie Ruscitti, is awaiting trial on a murder charge in the case.

Assistant District Attorney Eduardo O. Velazquez said he intended to offer evidence that the killing was planned.

A dozen jurors were chosen yesterday to hear the case. While

12 jurors will deliberate, Judge John S. McCann said he planned to seat 14 to 18 jurors, including two to six alternate jurors. The alternates would be chosen at random immediately prior to the start of deliberations.

The trial is expected to last at least three weeks.

Southbridge

Beanbag shotgun used to subdue upset man

SOUTHBRIDGE - Two officers suffered minor injuries yesterday, struggling with an 18-year-old man who had cut his wrist.

At 1 p.m. police received a 911 call from a man on Colonial Drive threatening to cut his throat. When they arrived, he ran into a friend's home, grabbed a large kitchen knife and began cutting his wrist, a police statement said.

Police used a beanbag shotgun to get the man to surrender. He was handcuffed and taken outside, where he was combative and had to be subdued.

A Fire Department ambulance took him to Harrington Memorial Hospital for treatment of the self-inflicted injuries and a psychiatric evaluation. Police Sgts. Brian Haggerty and Ryan Roettger, Officers John Ritchie, Jesus Rosa and Cynthia Iwanski, Detective Mario Marcucci and Auxiliary Officer Joe Coggins responded.

Worcester

Cases continued for five charged in attack

WORCESTER - The cases of five local people charged with assaulting three people Sunday with an ax and machete were continued to June 24 in Central District Court yesterday.

Two of the defendants, David A. Yanis, 32, of 1 Poplar St., and Javier A. Crespo, 23, of 54 Shelby St., were ordered...