Massachusetts man accused of stabbing mother's boyfriend 17 times in argument over steaks
A man from Middleboro, Massachusetts is accused of brutally stabbing his mother's boyfriend to death last weekend in an argument over steaks.
Andrew Horsman, 41, pleaded not guilty to murder at his arraignment Monday in Wareham District Court. He was ordered held without bail.
Investigators said Horsman and his mother's boyfriend, 66-year-old Paul Pomerleau, were arguing over steaks during a dinner at Pomerleau's home on Fairview Street Saturday night. That's when Horsman walked over to Pomerleau and stabbed him 17 times, according to prosecutor Nicole Piacentini Lawson.
Pomerleau collapsed on the floor and Horsman then poured lighter fluid on him, Lawson said. After a struggle with other relatives, Horsman ran out of the house.
Pomerleau was rushed to Morton Hospital where he died within an hour. Horsman was arrested without incident near the home. He was living in the house with his mother and Pomerleau at the time of the attack, Lawson said.
Horsman's attorney, Joshua Wood, said there's a history of domestic violence in the home.
"These people knew each other. There was a long relationship here and I think that's important, and the history wasn't always peaceful," Wood told reporters outside of court. "I think when the story fully comes out, it'll be clear that this wasn't a random act of violence, as the Commonwealth suggested, but frankly a response to years of suffering."
"It escalated very quickly and you're dealing with a situation where there's 17 different puncture wounds in an individual's body. It's a terrible situation," said Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.
"Really going to miss him"
"I'm really going to miss him," Paul's twin brother, Peter Pomerleau, said outside court, while trying to hold back tears. "A hard-working guy."
"He took in Andy, who was not his child, and he raised him. To be treated this way and this is how it ended is really disappointing," an unidentified family member told reporters.
Neighbors told WBZ-TV Sunday they were shocked that something like this could happen on their street.
"I got woken up cause the police cars that were flying up here and this and that. They were up there all night. It wasn't until the following morning that I saw and I recognized the house you know, that it was Paul's house," neighbor Jeff Burr said.
"I've known him for 30 years. And I'll tell you, he was like a gentle giant. He was a great guy. He'd give you the shirt off his back. You know, he really would."
Horsman is due back in court on July 28.
