Fall River Man Convicted of 2016 Taunton Murder

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney

Press Release
October 30, 2018

A 24-year-old Fall River man was convicted yesterday in Fall River Superior Court of the March 2016 Taunton murder of 23-year-old Vanessa Courtney.

James Souza, after a month-long trial, was convicted by a jury of his peers of First Degree Murder and Armed Robbery. He was immediately sentenced by Judge Thomas McGuire to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll.

“I am very pleased that the jury convicted the defendant of the brutal murder of the victim. The evidence presented to the jury was compelling and I appreciate their attentiveness during the long trial,”’ Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said. “This case highlights the violence that often is associated with drug related activity which in this case led to a brutal but totally unnecessary killing  of the victim.”

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576–cell