Contact: Beth Stone -508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A man has pleaded guilty to a second degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a Brockton man, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced today.
Jury selection in the murder trial of Terrance Richardson (DOB: 08/31/94) of Brockton began on January 17, and testimony was set to resume today when Richardson pleaded guilty to a charge of Murder in the Second Degree and Armed Robbery. Richardson was on trial for his role in the stabbing death of 20-year-old Jacinto Viera of Brockton. Brockton Superior Court Judge Richard Chin sentenced Richardson to serve Life in State Prison. Richardson may become parole eligible beginning in 15 years. Richardson was additionally sentenced to serve 15 to 15 and one day in State Prison on the Armed Robbery charge, to run concurrent.
At approximately 3:20 am on April 17, 2014, Richardson was among a group of three individuals who encountered the victim, Jacinto Viera on Warren Avenue as he walked home from his girlfriend and infant son’s house. As Mr. Viera walked near the Stop & Gas Station, located at 81 Warren Ave, Richardson produced a knife and struck Mr. Viera twice. Mr. Viera ran from the group and fled down Green Street. Richardson and his accomplices pursued Mr. Viera, and one or more of them stole a number of items from Mr. Viera, including his wallet, and then stabbed Mr. Viera five more times. Mr. Viera was found by a neighbor on Green Street, lying face down on their front steps. Lifesaving efforts were undertaken by the Brockton Fire Department, but Mr. Viera never regained vital signs and he was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital. Mr. Viera’s wallet was found a short distance away from his body, and forensic analysis of it yielded a number of Juhmall Richardson’s fingerprints.
Juhmall Richardson, a juvenile at the time of the murder, is currently serving an 8-10 year sentence on charges stemming from this case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Joseph Janezic and Canan Yesilcimen and Victim Witness Advocate Karen Fahy. It was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Brockton Police.
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