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Main Page Billerica House of Correction
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: trel

LOWELL -- The attorney for an Ayer man accused of raping a woman with a crowbar alleges that officers at the House of Correction in Billerica allowed other inmates to throw human feces and urine at his client while he sat trapped in his jail cell.

Defense attorney Robert Normandin asked for an investigation into Monday's incident that left his client an "emotional wreck" and unable to start his trial in Lowell Superior Court Tuesday.

"This kind of treatment is outrageous," Normandin told Lowell Superior Court Judge Jane Haggerty.

Haggerty postponed the rape trial until Wednesday, noting David Coutu was sobbing in the courtroom and looked "emotionally distraught."

"The thought that jailers can't protect someone is rather frightening," Haggerty said.

When reached for comment, Michael Hartigan, spokesman for Middlesex Sheriff James DiPaola, said he would check into the allegations.
Normandin said that Coutu had no problem at the Cambridge Jail, where he was awaiting trial. Coutu was moved to the Billerica jail on Monday, so he could be brought quickly to the Lowell court on Tuesday.

Coutu was placed in a two-person cell, but he was the only occupant, a protective measure taken for anyone accused of a sexual assault, Normandin said.

Coutu, aka David Hebert, is facing charges of aggravated rape, mayhem, home invasion, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in connection with the sexual assault of a 39-year-old Ayer woman in her apartment on March 9, 2006.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Dunigan alleges Coutu, 45, used a crowbar referred to as a "cat's claw" to tunnel his way into the victim's apartment through the wall of a vacant, adjacent apartment. Then the attacker used the crowbar to repeatedly rape the woman and set a cardboard box on fire. Emergency crews responding to the smoke alarms found the victim in her apartment suffering from horrible wounds.

Normandin said Coutu was targeted by other prisoners at the Billerica jail due to the horrific nature of the crime.

"Some of the guards told them to leave him alone, but for the most part (the corrections officers) did nothing," Normandin said.

At one point, several corrections officers allegedly "stepped aside" and allowed an inmate to throw liquid at Coutu, Normandin alleges. "And it wasn't water," he said.

Coutu was forced to sleep in that foulness Monday night before his trial, Normandin said.

Normandin said the judge made arrangements for Coutu to be returned to the jail in Billerica last night, but held in the infirmary where he will be alone and monitored by closed-circuit television.
"The court has done everything they can do to ensure his safety," Normandin said.

Posted by: Ptlm.Shamrock147

And we're suppost to feel bad for this guy?? Fuck him! and Kudos to our C/O friends in the BHOC!

Posted by: PearlOnyx

Sounds like this is someone placing a little spin on what may have actually happened. If someone is throwing urine, shoot...I'm going to step aside too. I don't know too many people that are going to try to play hero and step in front of a bucket of flying urine for an inmate. They have medals, and horrible infectious diseases for people like that =)

Posted by: trel

David Hebert, is facing charges of aggravated rape, mayhem, home invasion, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury

He used a crowbar referred to as a "cat's claw" to tunnel his way into the victim's apartment through the wall of a vacant, adjacent apartment. Then the attacker used the crowbar to repeatedly rape the woman and set a cardboard box on fire. Emergency crews responding to the smoke alarms found the victim in her apartment suffering from horrible wounds.

David was sobbing in the courtroom and looked "emotionally distraught."

… GIVE ME A BREAK! After what he did to that women, he is crying over getting urine and fesses thrown on him at the house of correction, he is going to fit in quite nicely at MCI. These kinds of stories aggravate me after the horrific crimes that are committed and all the suffering that the victim endures and they show up to court to face the consequences, crying about sitting in jail. Maybe he should have thought about that before he did what he did. I hope a judge and jury will give him plenty of time to think about it after.

Posted by: rg1283

General Population.

Posted by: 94c

on a farm...
bare assed...
with a donkey.

Posted by: BB-59

All you people should be ashamed of the way this rapist was treated! He is a human being too with emotional needs that are not being addressed!

I bet his mother did not follow Dr. Spocks "how to" book on how to raise your kids, or breast fed him.

Imagine a jail with a staff that cannot provide 1 on 1 supervision, what is the world comming too?

I must end this post here, the Rosie show is on next!

Posted by: PearlOnyx

BB,

You had me going there for a minute =)

Posted by: pahapoika

"This kind of treatment is outrageous," Normandin told Lowell Superior Court Judge Jane Haggerty.

yea , your breaking my heart councilor. he's a saint until he rapes your kid.

Posted by: goodieblueshoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by PearlOnyx

.... If someone is throwing urine, shoot...I'm going to step aside too. I don't know too many people that are going to try to play hero and step in front of a bucket of flying urine for an inmate. They have medals, and horrible infectious diseases for people like that =)

+1000

That's just the appetizer....
wait for the main course.

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