South Boston Man Admits Murdering Woman - Criminology Essay Sample

Introduction

Yesterday, a South Boston man confessed that he murdered an elderly woman in her Fenway apartment. He then set fire to the apartment to destroy evidence. Brett Christianson, 38, pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to second-degree murder. He admitted that he choked, stabbed Nordella to death in her Burbank Street apartment, and then set fire to it.

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Newson didn't have any immediate family, but she did have a large circle of friends in Fenway. According to friends, Newson, 85 accepted packages from other tenants and often scolded prostitutes when they showed up in the neighborhood. They also said that she had loaned money to Christianson in times of need. He lived in her apartment until he moved to South Boston a year prior to the murder. Elizabeth Keeley, the chief trial counsel, stated that Christianson confessed to Boston police that Newson was robbed but that he used violence to resist Newson's resistance. Christianson was sentenced to a life sentence.

Christianson was also sentenced to a mandatory life sentence for the murder. He was also sentenced to 12 to 15 years imprisonment, which will be served simultaneously with his murder sentence. Christianson will be eligible to parole in approximately 15 years. Yesterday's hearing saw a neighbor and a pastor from Newson's church file written victim-impact statements. Superior Court Judge VieriVolterra then read them both before sentencing. Ruth Andrews, a neighbor who first met Newson in 1978, wrote that Nordella had never hurt anyone. She was a vigilante of the neighborhood, and didn't take any guff. . . Andrews stated that she heard Newson being beaten by Christianson that night, which she thought was dangerous. It was a scuffle between young lovers, she thought.

Andrews wrote that she fled her apartment on the fourth floor and joined other neighbors. She then remained outside as the police dealt with the crime scene. Andrews stated that she is still angry. Andrews wrote that she was "old and lonely" but is fondly remembered. John Heinemeier was the pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Roxbury. He wrote that Newson would like to know why Christianson became violent and how he could get help. "We pray for the peace of Christianson's' just like we have been praying all these months for Ms. Newson."