DEDHAM - Ryan Bois sobbed and looked down yesterday in Norfolk Superior Court as his lawyer told a jury that the defendant, accused of raping and killing his 6-year-old cousin, had been "tortured by demons."
"Ryan Bois is not a monster, not evil incarnate," Beverly J. Cannone said during her 10-minute opening statement.
Her client has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. "He's a very troubled, psychologically tormented young man," she said, "and I'm going to ask you to judge him accordingly."
Bois, 22, also faces 10 other charges in connection with the slaying of Joanna Mullin of Weymouth in early August 2007. His lawyer is expected to argue that Bois had deep psychological troubles and was not of sound mind when he committed the crimes.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Nelson offered the jury a different explanation.
"I suggest to you that the defendant, for lack of a better word, was sane prior to going into the house that night," Nelson said, ". . . and when he left he knew what he did, that it was wrong."
Bois is accused of breaking into his grandmother's house and raping and strangling his cousin while she was at a sleepover. He allegedly wrapped her body in bed sheets and a quilt, stole keys to his grandmother's sport utility vehicle and put the body in the back seat. Prosecutors allege that Bois made a call on his cellphone, made arrangements to pick up drugs, and during the conversation asked how to dispose of a body.
Before opening statements, the jury visited the grandmother's house on Randall Avenue in Weymouth.
Nelson attempted to piece together for the jury the hours before and after the homicide. While talking, he used a projector and screen to display key places, such as the bedroom where the sexual assault allegedly occurred.
Nelson also displayed a picture of Joanna's body showing severe reddening on her neck. The faces of several jurors went slack as they looked at the photo, and when Nelson continued to give his opening statement with the image still on the screen, Judge Janet Sanders told Nelson's assistant to remove it.
According to prosecutors, Bois got a ride to his grandmother's house after spending much of the day at a cookout at a house about a mile away, arriving sometime after 10 p.m. Nelson said the attack occurred in a front bedroom.
"The attack of Joanna Mullin, the rape of Joanna Mullin, took place on this bed," he said, referring to a bed displayed on the screen. Nelson said Bois stole the keys to his grandmother's white Ford Explorer and also stole her cellphone and some money.
Bois, allegedly traveling at between 60 and 70 miles an hour on Washington Street in Weymouth, drew the attention of a Weymouth police officer on his way to an unrelated call at about 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 5. The officer, Edward Hancock, followed Bois and stopped him, but Bois sped off as the officer walked to the SUV. Hancock gave chase. At one point, Bois reached up to 100 miles an hour, driving through red lights, Nelson said.
Bois crashed into a taxi on East Howard Street in Quincy and fled the wreckage.
Hancock, a K-9 officer, was among three witnesses called to testify yesterday. As Bois fled the scene, Hancock said, he unleashed his dog, Hax. Hax caught up to Bois, and Hancock was able to apprehend him.
Hancock said Bois repeatedly shouted, "Just shoot me; you don't know what I did."
Hancock said he found Bois's ranting strange, given that he believed the suspect had violated speed limits and caused a crash. Hancock said he searched the SUV, finding the comforter wedged behind the front driver's seat and the back seat floor. He said he pressed down and felt what he believed was a dead animal.
"As I'm pulling the covers loose," he continued, appearing to choke up. "At that point, I'm able to observe two small legs and grayish feet."
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