BY DARRELL HALEN
A Massachusetts man accused
of helping an accomplice
steal an exotic bird from a Salem
pet store in September has
been indicted on charges that
he caused the crash that claimed
the life of a Pelham motorcyclist
shortly after the theft occurred.
Jason Connolly, 34, of 136
Andover St., Andover, Mass.,
was recently indicted on charges
of negligent homicide and manslaughter
by a grand jury at Hillsborough
County Superior Court
in Nashua.
The indictments charge Connolly
with driving a Ford Taurus with
defective brakes and being under
the influence of alcohol, cocaine
and marijuana when he crossed a
double yellow line on Route 38 in
Pelham and struck a Harley Davidson
motorcycle that Pelham resident
John Sweren was riding.
The motorcycle then collided
with another car. The collisions
occurred Sept. 18. Sweren, who
was 54, died at a Boston hospital.
Connolly, who is being held in
a county jail, was already facing
a charge that he helped Joseph
Murabito steal the $1,900 macaw
from Sea World Pet Center in
Salem. The fatal crash occurred
about a half hour after Connolly
drove Murabito, who allegedly
stole the bird, from the store.
Police had been looking for
Murabito, who lived in Lawrence,
Mass., since the theft and
crash. In early March, he was apprehended
in Maryland after being
stopped there by police.
Police discovered he was
wanted by authorities in Salem
because an arrest warrant for
Murabito had been entered in
the National Crime Information
Center, according to Salem Deputy
Police Chief William Ganley.
Murabito was transported
to New Hampshire by a Rockingham
County warrant unit.
Murabito, who was arraigned
on a felony shoplifting charge,
is being held on $5,000 personal
recognizance bail and $15,000
cash/surety bail.
He was scheduled to appear
at a probable cause hearing on
Wednesday, April 2, in Salem
District Court.
Pelham police recently interviewed
Murabito about the crash.
Lt. Gary Fisher said Murabito was
cooperative and provided some
information that might be useful
in their case. Murabito does not
face charges in connection with
the crash, Fisher said.