Taunton murder suspect arraigned

March 21, 2016 5:53 pm

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: news@abc6.com

TAUNTON, Mass. – The 22 year-old man accused of stabbing a 23 year-old Taunton woman to death last week has pleaded not guilty.

A judge ordered James Souza of Taunton be held without bail.

Prosecutors say he slit Vanessa Courtney’s throat inside her apartment on Morton Street on March 14. They claim it was drug-related.

“Unfortunately many of the murders [around here] are drug-related; it’s all over the place” Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said outside the courthouse. “We just have to deal with this case the best we can.”

Souza’s attorney, Brian Roman, also calling these drug-related cases “unfortunate,” saying: “A lot of good lives have been ruined by it, including right now my client until he’s vindicated.”

Roman describes his client as a “family man” who maintains his innocence.

Souza is due to appear in court again on April 14 at 9 a.m.