MAYHEM BEHIND JFK MUSEUM: Freedom of jailed suspects hinges on ongoing dangerousness hearings… [HN VIDEO OF COURT PROCEEDINGS]
BARNSTABLE – If you have to kick someone’s face in – in this case to the point where a 45-year-old woman had to be transported to a Boston hospital and is reportedly in need of plastic surgery – it’s basic Hytown “street knowledge” you don’t do it behind the JFK Museum or anywhere else around Barnstable Town Hall because that area is riddled with surveillance cameras…
… and the freedom of two Mayhem suspects may very well hinge on those cameras not providing more damning evidence.
CLICK HERE TO SEE INITIAL HN VIDEO COVERAGE OF THIS WEEK’S BARBARIC ATTACK!
The two alleged attackers accused of Mayhem, 27-year-old Rochelle Wood of Hyannis and 32-year-old Terry Burdick of East Falmouth, remain in custody at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility since their arrests this past Wednesday.
According to a police report, when an officer first encountered the victim, she was on the ground, moaning in pain, head and face covered with a “significant amount” of blood, left eye and cheek swollen, and “incoherent,” unable to say what had happened.
A witness reports that after being punched, the victim fought back and was at one point on top chocking one of her female attackers when the young woman’s boyfriend, Terry Burdick, “had seen enough and did not like the fact that his girl was losing,” all of a sudden striking the 45-year-old victim with such force she eventually stopped moving. Rochelle Wood reportedly had joined in at some point and continued to assault the victim after the 45-year-old woman had stopped moving. The witness punctuated his remarks by saying, “the whole thing was ugly.”
According to a police report, the suspect, Terry Burdick, said he was trying to buy some Percocets from the victim – who he describes as being the aggressor – when she suddenly “lost her shit” because she didn’t like the way someone was looking at her. Burdick goes on to describe a scene where he let his girlfriend and the victim fight it out for a period of time because “they were women,” and that he only got involved when the victim was on top of his girlfriend choking her. Burdick reportedly went on to say, “that’s when I punched [the victim].” He was concerned about protecting his girlfriend and did not remember anyone else being involved in the assault because he was only concerned about getting the victim off of his girlfriend.
As the investigation continued, another witness, the victim’s boyfriend, said that Rochelle Wood “had kicked [the victim] numerous times in the head and face.”
As you will see in the following HN Video of Friday’s court proceedings, the court’s first attempt at holding a Dangerousness Hearing had to be postponed until this coming Monday because the victim was still being treated for her injuries and unable to make it. The defense also indicated they wanted time to investigate whether a camera in the area of the alleged attack had captured definitive evidence.
The following HN Video shows Rochelle Wood and Terry Burdick being led into the courtroom. The HN Video also shows two key male witnesses for the prosecution in attendance. The Judge ordered both men to show up for Monday’s Dangerousness Hearing continuation and added they would be arrested if they failed to appear.
The Dangerousness Hearing is to determine whether Wood and Burdick can be released back into the public pending their future ongoing court proceedings, or whether they need to be held in custody because they pose a danger to others.
The female victim was in the process of being released from a Boston hospital and was expected to be on her way back to the Cape, according to a friend of the victim. The friend also said she will need to undergo plastic surgery as her treatment continues…
Terry Burdick’s girlfriend also showed up at Friday’s proceeding and showed HN marks on her neck she alleges where the result of her being choked by the victim…
Both Wood and Burdick will remain held without bail and their freedom depends on the finding of Monday’s Dangerousness Hearings. [DEVELOPING]
HN NOTE: With all due respect to the court, it’s important to note that the sound system inside the Barnstable District Courtroom is substandard and observers have difficulty hearing what is going on. It may simply be because the lawyers tend not to speak into the microphones… or it could be the sound equipment needs to be updated. Reporters attending the court proceedings have voiced concern because it’s their job to get it right… and not being able to hear makes accurately reporting back to the public much more difficult.
[HN VIDEO OF FRIDAY’S COURT PROCEEDINGS]
* All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by Gary Wright… [CRANK IT!]