Ayer brothers sentenced in beating death of teen

[Ian David]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Twin brothers were sentenced to five years in prison Friday for the beating death of a teenager after a Fourth of July fireworks show.

Daniel and Peter McGuane, 23, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter last month in the 2005 death of 19-year-old Kelly Proctor in Ayer.

Prosecutors had sought a 10-to-12-year sentence for the McGuanes. Defense attorneys, who had said the brothers acted in self defense after Proctor picked a fight, asked for 30 months, with credit for the two years the men have already spent in jail. A grand jury had indicted the twins on murder charges, but the charges were reduced to manslaughter in May.

<snip>

During their trial, defense attorneys told jurors they should acquit the brothers because a state pathologist made mistakes in his original autopsy report. Dr. William Zane originally found that Proctor's brain fatally swelled after he was hit by the McGuanes, but during their trial, he testified he was no longer sure of that. Zane was suspended from doing autopsies of possible murder victims pending a state review of the medical examiner's office.

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO57964/


See also:


Violent reputation follows twins
After Ayer killing, residents recall a history of intimidation and resentment

<snip>

Those ''tough guys" made headlines this month when they were charged with murdering a 19-year-old former football star who happened across their path after the town's Independence Day fireworks on July 2. Kelly Proctor, a former schoolmate of the McGuanes, was allegedly kicked to death as he tried to crawl under a truck to escape his attackers.

<snip>

Even before Proctor's murder, the McGuane brothers were polarizing figures in Ayer. They cut a broad swath here, bullying and alienating residents and classmates. How Ayer reacted to their behavior is a case study in just how delicate the social fabric of a small town is and how powerful an influence two people can have on a community.

<snip>

Back in 2001, the explosion that woke up DeFillipo totaled the McGuanes' Honda and signaled the start of a rocky four years that included fistfights with a string of classmates, several visits by the police to their home, an assault-and-battery charge against one of the twins, and a restraining order taken out by Daniel's ex-girlfriend.

<snip>

Boys who played roughFrom as early as elementary school, the McGuane twins -- now 21 -- established themselves as boys who played rough. Winter snowball wars routinely devolved into fistfights. Backyard basketball games ended with bloody lips. Classmates who came over to play never returned.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/07/17/violent_reputation_follows_twins/

[AllieB]

1. Only 5 years given their history of violent behavior?

Bad call by the judge.

[Heidi]

2. Kick.

:kick:

[thoughtanarchist]

3. Does the story mention that...

their dad is a rich doctor?

Or that the victim was a black kid?

or that the DA minimized the charges from Murder 1 down to manslaughter?

...just askin'.