Lawyer for man accused of murder tells judge COVID-19 has stalled work on his defense

BOSTON — One of the lawyers for accused killer Louis Coleman III told a federal Magistrate Judge Tuesday the novel coronavirus has slowed work on his case.

“Since the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of work on the case has stalled out and our ability to visit Mr. Coleman in the jail has been put on hold, which hampers our progress significantly to move the case to next step,” said defense attorney Jane Peachy in a teleconferencing pretrial hearing.

Coleman is held without bail, facing a federal charge of kidnapping death related to the February 2019 murder of Jassy Correia.

Prosecutors allege Coleman picked up Correia in Boston’s Theater District and murdered her somewhere between Boston and his home in Providence, Rhode Island where surveillance cameras allegedly recorded Coleman dragging Correia’s lifeless body into his apartment.

Several days later, Correia’s body was found in the trunk of his car during a traffic stop in Delaware.

Federal prosecutors are considering the death penalty for Coleman.

Magistrate Judge Page Kelley told attorney Peachy that “the case does need to move and not just get stalled out.”

Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, Brad Bailey says the coronavirus has been slowing many other cases, making it impossible for attorneys to meet with their clients.

But he predicts the coronavirus will not adversely impact the Coleman case.

“It’s understood, in these types of cases, when the ultimate penalty could be the imposition of death, they are going to play out over a longer string and they’re not going to be rushed,” Bailey said.

Joaquin Correia is Jassy’s father.

He was aware of the delay in the case, but he told me he is not worried.

“We can do nothing right now, but wait for any decision the judge makes," said Correia. “I want everything to be clear. We don’t mind the case go up for July. The case is going to be resolved. My daughter is not going to come back. So, I want justice to work.”

Both sides will reconvene on July 7th

© 2020 Cox Media Group