A convicted first-degree assassin who killed an 87-year-old man and bragged about getting away with it’s being launched by the state’s parole board.
Ronald O’Brien again in 1975 shot and killed John Telfair on the 87-year-old man’s Woburn house and robbed him of $500.
O’Brien was 20 years outdated when he dedicated the homicide, and he was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole. Nonetheless, the Supreme Judicial Court docket final 12 months dominated that life with out parole was unconstitutional if the offender was 18 to twenty years outdated on the time.
In consequence, O’Brien turned eligible for parole, and the Massachusetts Parole Board lately granted his launch regardless of opposition from the Middlesex DA’s Workplace.
O’Brien has been behind bars for nearly 50 years after he killed his neighbor within the hours after Christmas on Dec. 26, 1975. O’Brien knew Telfair for many of his life.
A witness testified on the trial that O’Brien and his girlfriend arrived on the witness’ house between 1:30 and a pair of:30 a.m., and O’Brien “admitted that he did something and wanted to leave town because he was afraid,” the parole board wrote in its resolution.
“When asked what happened, Mr. O’Brien stated that he went to Mr. Telfair’s home, and Mr. Telfair pulled out a gun,” the parole board added. “The men struggled over the gun, and the gun fired.”
O’Brien requested the witness to drive him and his girlfriend to an airport or practice station, which the witness refused to do. O’Brien and his girlfriend left, and the subsequent day, O’Brien was down in Trenton, New Jersey.
O’Brien stayed in New Jersey for a number of days, and he recounted the homicide on a number of events.
“In early March, police say, the Massachusetts man mentioned to an acquaintance in Camden, N.J., that he had gotten away with a murder in Woburn,” the Herald wrote on April 14, 1976.
Whereas in New Jersey, O’Brien and his girlfriend met together with his sister and brother-in-law in Camden. O’Brien confirmed his members of the family the money and requested his sister to rely it. His sister counted between $500 and $600.
O’Brien recounted the homicide at his sister’s residence, stating that he went to Telfair’s house to ask him for cash, however Telfair refused.
When O’Brien persevered, Telfair pulled out a gun. In response, O’Brien took the gun from Telfair, knocked him to the bottom, took his pockets, and shot him within the head.
O’Brien additionally searched Telfair’s house and took different gadgets, together with checks and drugs. O’Brien’s brother-in-law testified that he noticed O’Brien with capsule bottles and checks with Telfair’s identify on them.
O’Brien in the course of the trial denied capturing Telfair. As an alternative, O’Brien accused his girlfriend of capturing Telfair whereas he was within the kitchen. O’Brien testified that he informed others that he shot Telfair to guard his girlfriend.
Authorities bizarrely at first thought that Telfair had died of pure causes. Police discovered him on the ground of his bed room, and there was no apparent proof of foul play, officers dominated on the time.
Then police had been baffled once they realized from the acquaintance that O’Brien had admitted he obtained away with killing Telfair.
In consequence, Telfair’s physique was exhumed and an post-mortem confirmed he was murdered — shot within the head.
O’Brien ended up being convicted of first-degree homicide on Nov. 22, 1976, in Middlesex Superior Court docket.
“Mr. O’Brien has been incarcerated for approximately 49 years,” the parole board wrote in its resolution to launch him. “He turned parole eligible on account of the Mattis resolution. Mr. O’Brien has not been engaged in rehabilitative programming, however he has remained employed. He has been sober whereas incarcerated.
“He has remained disciplinary report free for 24 years,” the parole board added. “He has various medical needs… Given Mr. O’Brien’s health issues, his addressing of criminogenic factors, including his sobriety, and his presentation of remorse at his parole hearing, the Board finds Mr. O’Brien’s release is compatible with the welfare of society.”
