Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

Massachusetts Police News, Information and Discussions on MassCops

Posted by: kwflatbed

By Jennifer Lade
Standard-Times staff writer
February 24, 2008 6:00 AM

WAREHAM — Several motorcyclists will be on hand Tuesday when the trial begins for the driver whose car collided with three motorcycles last March, killing one of the riders.
John Hanrahan of Weymouth is charged with the death of Brian Mello, a New Bedford firefighter who was killed in the crash on Route 44 in Middleboro when Mr. Mello and two other motorcyclists collided with Mr. Hanrahan's car on March 24, 2007.
Mr. Mello, of Raynham, was pronounced dead at Morton Hospital in Taunton, The Standard-Times reported last March.
The two other riders, Thomas Newhook of Middleboro and Wolfgang Decker of Bridgewater, were injured.
The trial will begin Tuesday at Wareham District Court with jury selection.
In a press release from the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association,
Mr. Mello's wife, Elisa, spoke of the great loss she experienced due to what she believes was a right-of-way violation by Mr. Hanrahan.
"He took my life away," she said.
"I just cannot understand how he did not see three motorcycles coming toward him before he turned left in front of them."
Mr. Hanrahan declined to comment on the incident or upcoming trial. The victims and the MMA did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Several motorcyclists are expected to attend the trial in support of the victims and their families, the press release said.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/802240334

---

Posted by: kwflatbed

Judge strips driver's license in death of city firefighter


ANDREW T. GALLAGHER/Standard-Times special Debby Mello holds a photo of her brother, Brian Mello, who was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a car driven by John Hanrahan last year.

By KEVIN P. O'CONNOR
Standard-Times correspondent
February 27, 2008 6:00 AM

WAREHAM — Elisabeth Mello recalls the day she met Brian Mello as the beginning of a fairy tale.
They were instant friends. Then, she saw he was a good father, a good brother, a good son. Within weeks, her 5-year-old daughter was calling Brian Mello "Daddy."
Elisabeth and Brian Mello married on July 29, 2006, eight months before he died.
John Hanrahan, 74, a retired Boston school teacher and former driving instructor, admitted Tuesday to causing Mr. Hanrahan's death through his negligence. After his admission, Mr. Hanrahan left District Court and went home, having been given a one-year suspended sentence, 1,500 hours of community service and three years of probation. The Weymouth resident is also prohibited from ever driving again.
"It's not enough," said Debby Mello of Dartmouth, Brian Mello's sister. "Nothing would be enough.
"But we really wanted to see everything taken away from Mr. Hanrahan — not for life, just for 30 days, so he could feel a little bit of what we feel."
Brian Mello, 43, of Raynham, a New Bedford firefighter, died on March 24 as he rode the new Victory motorcycle he bought for his wife that spring.
He was hit as he rode west on Route 44. Mr. Hanrahan made a left turn directly in front of him to turn from Route 44 east onto Interstate 495. Thomas Newhook of Middleboro and Wolfgang Decker of Bridgewater were also knocked from their motorcycles and injured.
Mr. Hanrahan was charged with motor vehicle homicide, negligent operation and failure to yield the right of way.
The case was scheduled for trial Tuesday, but Mr. Hanrahan waived that right before District Court Presiding Justice Rosemary Minehan. Instead, he pleaded no contest to the two charges and put himself at the mercy of the court.
That plea meant Judge Minehan had to determine a sentence in the case.
The sides filed into the courtroom at 10:30 a.m. after defense lawyer George Hassett and prosecutor Laura E. Weierman agreed to present the plea to the judge.
The Mello family was joined by a half dozen New Bedford firefighters and 20 members of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.
Family members took the stand to tell Judge Minehan what the death meant to them.
Elisabeth Mello spoke directly to Mr. Hanrahan about her husband's death.
"I blame you," she said. "I blame you for the accident. I blame you because my husband isn't here today. I blame you for all the tears I've cried. I blame you.
"God wants me to forgive you, but I don't have to say the words aloud and I don't have to wish you well.
"You took our fairy tale and you ripped the pages out."
Joyce Ann Mello of Dartmouth said she has not yet come to terms with the death of her son.
"I miss my son," she said. "My whole world has been turned upside down. I'll never be the same again. The little boy I held in my hands, in my arms, grew up to be a fine young man and a brave firefighter. There is pain every day now."
She said she visits her son's grave every day.
"I go to bed every day and I pray it will be just a dream. But I wake up and every day is the same."
Even while they felt the pain of loss, no one was asking that Mr. Hanrahan be sentenced to a long stretch in prison, said Debby Mello.
"Mr. Hanrahan, we know, did not intend to go out that day to hit anyone," she said. "He hesitated. He made a bad judgment. I'd ask the court to give him the chance to not have choices.
"He took our choice, to have our brother, away. He said he saw the motorcycles and he made the choice to go. I'm asking the court to take his choices away. Not for a long time, but for 30 or 60 days. I'm begging the court to give him no choices, to let someone else tell him what he has to do."
Mr. Hanrahan could end up in prison if he violates the terms of his probation, and he must complete 1,500 hours of community service within the next three years.
Judge Minehan suggested that Mr. Hanrahan spend that time lecturing in local schools about the dangers of negligent driving or reading to patients in brain trauma units.
She told Brian Mello's family and friends that she understood if they were dissatisfied with the sentence.
"Usually, when we do justice, everyone leaves the room unhappy. That might be the case today," she said. "But I can't bring him back."

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/802270352

---

vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2008 - Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser