As reported by Gregory Smith in the March 16, 2013 edition of the Providence Journal, three (3) people are dead in a murder/suicide in Warwick. A man shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend and then killed himself. The woman's children were home at the time of the shooting. These crimes are considered to be domestic violence crimes because of the relationship between the parties.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 12-29, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, certain crimes are categorized as "domestic violence crimes" if there is a family or household relationship between the parties. "Family or household member" means spouses, former spouses, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past three (3) years, and persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together, or if persons who are or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship within the past one year which shall be determined by the court's consideration of the following factors:
(1) the length of time of the relationship;
(2) the type of the relationship;
(3) the frequency of the interaction between the parties.
Only specific crimes can be domestic violence crimes. They include simple assault, felony assault, vandalism, disorderly conduct, trespass, kidnapping, child-snatching, sexual assault, homicide, violation of the provisions of a protective order, stalking, refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct a telephone, burglary and unlawful entry, arson, cyberstalking and cyberharassment, and domestic assault by strangulation.
In addition to the penalties imposed for the crime, there are enhanced penalties when it is charged as a domestic violence crime, which include a no-contact order and domestic violence/batterer's intervention counseling.
If you or a family member has been charged with assault, disorderly conduct or other domestic violence crimes, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.