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Brothers charged in connection to beating death of man outside Quincy bar

DEDHAM, Mass. — The two brothers charged in connection to the beating death of a local father appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon.

Matthew and Steven Potter, the sons of a retired Quincy police officer, are accused of beating 44-year-old Christopher McCallum to death, leaving the Bridgewater unconscious and bleeding in the parking lot of an American Legion post earlier this year.

Matthew Potter, a National Grid worker, and Steven Potter, an EMT, were both arrested on Tuesday.

In court, prosecutors said Matthew Potter, who is facing manslaughter charges, was acting aggressively and had been drinking the night McCallum was severely beaten. Officials said assault charges against Steven Potter were related to two other victims in the fight, but not to McCallum.

Both brothers pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.

"They get to walk, they are breathing, they're alive," said Kathy McCallum, Christopher's wife and now a widow. "My husband is not, and he's not here because of what they did."

McCallum and his brother, William, were at the American Legion Post in Quincy to watch one of their favorite bands play when a fight broke out. According to police, McCallum was trying to break up the fight when he got punched, fell to the ground and later died.

According to court documents, "A witness observed Matthew Potter within an arm's length of Christopher McCallum's unconscious body."

During the investigation, which has been ongoing for the past nine months, police said they had no witnesses or video footage of the night of the incident.

"My guy was on the ground and didn’t throw a punch at anybody, he didn’t hit McCallum at all," said Kevin Reddington, the defense attorney for Matthew Potter.

Court documents also revealed that, "Matthew Potter did not remain at the post. However, his cell phone and scally cap were located adjacent to Christopher McCallum's body."

McCallum later died of several skull fractures and blunt force trauma.

"My family will never be the same without such a wonderful husband," said Kathy McCallum. "My sons will live forever without their loving father because of Matthew and Steven Potter and their reckless behavior and senseless act of violence."

"The love we have for each other is keeping us going every day," said Ryan McCallum, the victim's oldest son.

While some justice has been served for the McCallum family, they are still wondering why the brothers were not arrested nine months ago.

The Potters were released on bail and are due back in court in January.

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