Man charged with attempted murder in Turners Falls stabbing

By ANDY CASTILLO

Recorder Staff

Published: 11-01-2016 11:41 PM

TURNERS FALLS — A man charged with attempted murder in connection to a cocaine-related knife stabbing on L Street around 7:30 p.m. Halloween night was arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday afternoon.

Bail was set at $10,000 for Christopher John Chicoine, 35, who stood before a judge along with his girlfriend, Lindsay Wan, 29, charged with accessory after the fact — for allegedly conspiring to help Chicoine escape.

According to a statement released by the Montague Police Department, bail was initially set at $150,000 for Chicoine, and $50,000 for Wan following their arrests Monday night. After hearing an argument from Wan’s attorney, Timothy Flynn, Wan was released on $150 bail pending another court appearance later this year.

The police statement relates that after being tipped off by a 911 call, police and medical personnel found a 35-year-old man with “obvious stab wounds to his head, facial area, and arm.”

It also notes that “prior to being transported to Baystate Franklin Medical Center for treatment, the victim was able to provide the identity of his aggressor,” who he identified as Chicoine.

During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber said police found the badly injured man near a bar downtown. The victim was later transported via LifeFlight helicopter to Springfield.

After finding the victim, local police released a county-wide alert asking other departments to be on the lookout for Chicoine. State Police spokesman Tom Ryan said troopers were asked to help with the crime scene investigation a little after 8 p.m. Greenfield police officers were also asked to help.

Around 10 p.m., Chicoine phoned the Montague Police and said he wanted to turn himself in. Wan was arrested at the same time.

Stabbing on L Street

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Greenfield Police seek robbery suspect
Driver taken to hospital after Interstate 91 rollover in Bernardston
New Salem man faces charges after striking school bus in Barre
My Turn: Biden’s record and accomplishments are extremely positive
‘There’s nothing we can’t fix’: Busy Bee Computers opens in Greenfield
Greenfield’s Lucas Allenby, Landon Allenby qualify for USASA Nationals

During the court proceedings, the assistant district attorney referenced the police report, stating the stabbing was the result of an argument over drug money in Chicoine’s residence at 40 L St. in Turners Falls.

During this argument, Webber said the individual who was later stabbed threatened to rape both Chicoine and his girlfriend if he didn’t reimburse $500 for cocaine that Chicoine allegedly purchased from him.

The assistant district attorney continued, stating that before the stabbing, Chicoine allegedly told the victim “I’m sorry, I need to kill you.”

The prosecution noted that Chicoine has an eight-page police record, including 15 convictions. One of those convictions, Webber continued, was a 2011 conviction of assault and battery with a machete.

According to Flynn, Wan was in the bedroom when the stabbing happened, and came out to see Chicoine chase the victim outside. Allegedly, Wan found blood everywhere, and had begun to clean it up with towels when Chicoine, apparently suicidal, called her asking for a ride. She took his car and picked him up.

After driving around for two hours, eventually ending up in Conway, Chicoine’s public defendant said his client “called police and said ‘I’m coming in, I just don’t want to get shot.’”

In a police interview, Wan, a mother of three children and a South Deerfield native, said she told Chicoine “I don’t want to be a Bonnie and Clyde.”

Chicoine’s next court appearance will be on Dec. 5.

You can reach Andy Castillo

at: acastillo@recorder.com

]]>