Five years later, murder trial for man charged with killing mother of three, may move forward

NORTON, Mass. — Five years after Martin McDonald allegedly fatally stabbed his estranged wife, Julie Meede, in her Norton apartment, his murder trial may finally be moving forward.

Victim’s advocate attorney Wendy Murphy has filed a motion on behalf of Meede’s family to speed up McDonald’s trial after years of legal maneuvering, hearings, and COVID-19 delays.

Julie’s mother, Brenda Meede, told Boston 25 the five-year delay has been excruciating for the entire family.

“It’s been almost five years, it’s been hell,” Brenda said.

Under the U.S. Constitution, defendants are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial, but Murphy says victims and their families have the same rights too.

“They call them prompt disposition rights, but they are basically speedy trial rights,” Murphy said. “The problem is, if you don’t know you have them, you can’t assert them. The most important right the family has is a right to a prompt disposition of the criminal case. I don’t know what anyone’s definition of prompt is, but it is certainly not five years.”

It appears McDonald’s trial will get a priority after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and trial resumes next year.

On another front, the Meede family appears to be winning another legal front.

McDonald has asked the court to grant him visitation right to the children. This would require the family bringing the young children to prison to see him.

Brenda adopted Julie’s children.

Julie’s oldest child, a daughter from a previous relationship, allegedly witnessed the fatal attack and, according to police, McDonald allegedly struck the child as she tried to call 911 for help.

A judge has delayed a hearing on the matter until late January, meaning, if the visitation happens at all, it will be well after Christmas.

The delay is a relief for the Meede family.

“[The visit] would hurt the kids, they witnessed it,” said Julie’s sister, Katie Meede. “They have PTSD from it. That would be awful for them to even see him.”

Thinking of her murdered daughter, Brenda added, “She needs to rest in peace, too. Her knowing it’s not over for us, it’s not over for her.”

But now for the first time in years, Julie’s family believes they could be on the verge of finally getting justice.

Cox Media Group