Taunton man who shot, killed wife in 2021 sentenced to life in prison

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A Taunton man who shot and killed his wife two years ago was sentenced to prison.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said Tuesday that Edmund Silveira, 88, pled guilty to second degree murder. He was sentenced to serve life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

On Aug. 29, 2021, Silveira shot at Dianne Silveira, 71, eight times, hitting her four times.

Quinn said Dianne’s sister called her just before 9 p.m. that day and heard her scream before the phone went dead. After calling back several times, she couldn’t get ahold of her sister.

The victim’s sister then called Taunton police.

While this was happening, Quinn said the couple’s Bay Street neighbor also heard screaming coming from outside and several gunshots. When the neighbor looked out the window, she saw Dianne lying motionless in the driveway.

Quinn said the neighbor saw Silveira walk away from his wife’s body. She was taken to Morton Hospital, where she died.

Police said when they arrived, Silveira barricaded himself in his home. He turned off the lights and ignored orders from police.

Quinn said a tactical team used a camera-equipped robot to enter the home. That’s when they saw that Silveira in the kitchen with apparent self-inflected cuts to both his arms and neck.

Police said the suspect told him he tried to shoot himself but the gun jammed.

Quinn said that in a recorded confession, Silveira admitted to suspecting his wife having an affair and didn’t want to tell her sister they had been arguing. It was learned that the wife wasn’t having an affair.