Taunton Man Convicted of First Degree Murder for 2009 Route 24 Slaying
May 30, 2014
District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Thomas Jeffreys has been convicted of multiple felonies, including first degree murder, in connection to the 2009 drive-by shooting murder of 29-year-old Troy Pina on Route 24 in Freetown.
After deliberating for about 12 hours over the course of three days, a Superior Court jury earlier this afternoon voted to convict Mr. Jeffreys, 35, of Taunton, of first degree murder, three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of illegal possession of a firearm.
Mr. Jeffreys was sentenced by Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
The trial, which was prosecuted by Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley and Assistant District Attorney Stephen “Chuck” Nadeau, began on May 7th.
Mr. Jeffreys is the second of three defendants to go to trial connected to the Pina homicide, and the second defendant to be convicted of first degree murder.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has now secured convictions in 21 of the last 22 murder trials in the county, a record District Attorney Sutter called unprecedented in the 30 years he has been in the criminal justice system.
“Once again, my first thoughts are with the Mr. Pina’s family. He was gunned down brutally and senselessly, and he was only 29 years old, with most of his life in front of him. I am grateful to the prosecution team and to the jury that we were able to deliver some measure of justice to his family. I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate William McCauley and Chuck Nadeau for their stellar advocacy in court and their relentless determination out of court in order to obtain a first degree murder conviction in this case. Cheryl Robinson, our victim witness advocate, and all of the state police and Taunton Police involved in this case deserve our praise,” District Attorney Sutter said. “One final note: We have now won convictions in 21 of the last 22 murder trials. I have been a lawyer practicing in the criminal justice system in this state for 30 years. I think this record of achievement is unprecedented and a convincing testament to the outstanding quality of the team we have put together upon behalf of the people of Bristol County.”
Contacts:
Gregg Miliote Director of Communications 508-997-0711 774-292-9576-after hours Ashley Bendiksen Media Assistant 508-997-0711 774-929-5614-after hours