For Immediate Release September 25, 2008                                     
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Hinds Found Guilty Of Double Murder
Convicted For Second Time In Retrial Of 1998 Case In Which He Murdered Two Family Members And Shot Another

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that John Hinds was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury for the murders of Warren and Mary Beranger, and the attempted murder of Patricia Melo in Cambridge on October 16, 1998.

Hinds, 66, of Cambridge, was found guilty of first degree murder for the death of Warren Beranger and second degree murder for the death of Mary Beranger. He was also found guilty of armed assault with attempt to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm without an FID card on September 15. The jury returned the verdict regarding one murder yesterday, and returned guilty verdicts on all other counts today.

Hinds had previously been found guilty by a Middlesex jury in 2000 on two counts of first degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm. A retrial was granted in 2007 after an appeals court judge found that the trial judge had offered insufficient jury instructions.

Hinds was sentenced to consecutive life sentences on the murder charges by Judge Hiller Zobel. Zobel put the remaining charges over for sentencing on November 3.

“I want to thank the jury for returning a just verdict on a disturbing case in which this defendant brutally murdered and assaulted members of his own family,” District Attorney Leone said.  “This is the second time that John Hinds was found guilty by a jury of his peers, and the second time in a decade that the victims’ families were forced to live through the uncertainty of a trial. I want to particularly commend the bravery of Patricia Melo who testified twice against John Hinds in an effort to achieve justice on behalf of her family.”

According to authorities, on October 16, 1998, Warren Beranger, the defendant’s half brother, arrived at the house of their mother with his wife, Mary Beranger, and his sister Patricia Melo, in order to secure their mother’s belongings on her behalf.  Upon arrival, and due to previous tensions about their mother’s property, Warren Beranger began to fear for their safety and called Cambridge Police to ask them to escort them into the residence, where the defendant resided.

While waiting for the police to arrive, Patricia Melo went into the house and was confronted by the defendant.  An argument ensued and Hinds shot Melo in the head.  Melo was critically injured but survived the encounter. 

After shooting Melo, Hinds then went outside and shot Warren and Mary Beranger after a brief exchange of words.  He then returned to the house and called the Cambridge Police to report the crime.  Both Warren and Mary Beranger later died as a result of the gunshot wounds.

The prosecution team was lead by Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Lynch and included ADA Melinda Thompson, paralegal Miriam Godfrey, and victim witness advocate Patrice Provitola.

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