For the third time in as many months, family members of the victims of September’s massacre in Mattapan sat in a Dorchester courtroom and listened as a prosecutor described how the alleged suspects marched their loved ones up the street and shot them in the head.
Family members said the pain is almost too much to take, but they said it’s something they have to do.
“Justice will never be done,” said Till Freeman, the uncle of the only surviving victim, Marcus
Hurd, 32, who remains in critical condition. “You still have the trial to go through and that opens up the wounds all over again, so it’s going to take a long time for the families to be healed.”
When Edward Washington’s case was called, family members of the victims stood up to try and get a better glimpse of him, but he was kept out of sight at the request of his attorney. That angered some family members who briefly left the courtroom.
Washington had cases pending on other drug charges, so the judge revoked his bail. Victims’ relatives cheered and clapped, and some said “amen.”
Asked later about the cheering, Freeman said it was sort of a relief.
“We’re thankful and we’re hopeful and we’re grateful,” he said.
