The usual suspects at the Wests Tigers have been busily launching a ticker-tape parade about the club’s new much-vaunted $78 million Center of Excellence in Concord.
Parading around like they’ve won the grand finale – can someone please tell them the Wests Tigers are in 16th position on the NRL ladder and now firm favorites to collect the club’s first-ever wooden spoon.
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There’s also been an early loose carry in the new digs hailed as the best rugby league training facility in the world with the organization dropping the ball when it comes to club legend and premiership-winner Benji Marshall’s playing career.
In a spiel about Marshall’s playing feats at the Wests Tigers, the club has somehow managed to stuff up who he won a premiership with.
Lowly Titans embarrass meek Manly | 02:18
For the record, the incoming Wests Tigers head coach in 2025 won a premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005.
The flick pass to Pat Richards, anyone? It was also the club’s one and only premiership.
Instead, in the initial fit out of the new Center of Excellence – the Wests Tigers Marshall bio states he won a premiership with the Dragons.
Whoops. Benji Marshall did not win a premiership with the Dragons. Photo: NRL Roast TwitterSource: Twitter
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confused? Don’t worry, so were we.
The Wests Tigers have since confirmed the error and are in the process of getting it fixed.
Like Jack Gibson always said, winning starts Monday and winning starts in the front office.
Matty nails Buzz impersonation | 00:51
Anyway, they’ve also got a barber shop at the new Center of Excellence so at the very least the Tigers playing squad can sport fresh fades and the organization staff will look sharp.
In all seriousness the Center of Excellence is a great result for the club as a training facility and will no doubt help them on the training and recruitment front.
And once they fix up the Marshall faux pas then hopefully the only way is up.
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A child has been charged with murdering a mother and her two young children found shot to death in Northfield, New Hampshire, last week, authorities said.
The arrest was announced Thursday by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes and Northfield Police Chief John Raffaelly. They didn’t share the suspect’s name, age or other identifying information, citing legal restrictions on sharing information on children charged with crimes.
Asked about the case, New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey Ward emphasized that his office was bound not to share more details. He didn’t say whether the suspect was known to the family or whether searches in different New Hampshire towns turned up any evidence.
He reiterated investigators’ previous statement that they believe they’ve identified everyone involved in the killing.
Police found the bodies of 25-year-old Kassandra Sweeney and her two sons, 4-year-old Benjamin Sweeney and 1-year-old Mason Sweeney, in their Northfield home on the morning of Aug. 3 while responding to a 911 call . Each died of a single gunshot wound, autopsies found.
Law enforcement searched for evidence in the case on Saturday in Northfield and Tilton, and again on Wednesday near Interstate 93 in Concord, Canterbury and Tilton, but didn’t immediately say if they discovered any evidence related to the case.
The investigation into the killing of a mother and her two young sons in Northfield, New Hampshire had officers searching off I-93 Wednesday.
As the investigation continued, rumors spread in Northfield, a town of fewer than 5,000 residents north of Concord and southwest of the Lakes Region.
“Every other customer is coming in saying something about the gun and who did it,” Barbara Moulton, who works at a local convenience store, told NBC10 Boston.
“The first three or four days people were really scared, like, ‘Oh no, who was it?'” she added.
A funeral was planned for Kassandra Sweeney Saturday in Concord.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoff Ward said last week that the attorney general’s office had been in contact with the children’s father, Sean Sweeney, and he has been “very cooperative and helpful in this investigation.” He said the attorney general’s victim witness advocate is working with him and his family of him.
“The search activity poses no danger to the public and will consist of a search for physical information,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
“He is obviously beyond devastated as a result of these crimes,” Ward said.
Sweeney spoke about the case for the first time in a Facebook post Sunday morning.
“I wanted to thank everyone for the outreach and support, while things will never be ‘normal’ again my body finally shut down and let me get some sleep last night and I woke up feeling as ‘normal’ as possible,” he wrote.
Sweeney said he is “unable to confirm anything as to what happened and who is responsible” and called his wife Kassandra “the most amazing, caring, sweetest all around good person that anyone could ever meet,” while adding that she loved their children very much.
The search for missing Manchester girl Harmony Montgomery is now a homicide investigation, law enforcement officials said Thursday.Attorney General John Formella said investigators now believe that Harmony was killed in early December 2019. He said the investigation is now a homicide investigation.>> News conference videos: NH AG Formella | Manchester Chief Aldenberg”We understand that this is truly devastating news for Harmony’s family, friends and loved ones,” Formella said. “Our hearts go out to them.”It was believed that Harmony went missing between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, when she was 5 years old, but police did not learn of her disappearance for more than two years.>> Timeline in the disappearance of 8-year-old Harmony Montgomery Formella said Harmony’s remains have not been located, but recently confirmed biological evidence and multiple sources of information have led investigators to the conclusion that she was killed. He did not provide any information about the evidence. An emotional Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said he was saddened that it has transformed into a homicide investigation.” As I stated from the beginning of this investigation and throughout, every effort has been made to bring Harmony home to her family,” he said. “Our commitment to bringing Harmony home has not wavered, nor will it.” Officials did not take any questions at the news conference announcing the homicide investigation.” Our greatest fears were confirmed today, and now our efforts shift to ensuring justice for Harmony, “Gov. Chris Sununu said. “I commend the tireless dedication of the law enforcement community for their unwavering efforts and commitment to transparency, and recognize they have much work ahead of them. We have come to know Harmony through her bright smiles in her photos and she will not be soon to be forgotten by her fellow Granite Staters.”A 24-hour tip line is open for anyone who has information about Harmony. Anyone with any information can call or text 603-203-6060. Watch a timeline of the investigation in the player below.–
The search for missing Manchester girl Harmony Montgomery is now a homicide investigation, law enforcement officials said Thursday.
Attorney General John Formella said investigators now believe that Harmony was killed in early December 2019. He said the investigation is now a homicide investigation.
>> News conference videos: NH AG Formella | Manchester Chief Aldenberg
“We understand that this is truly devastating news for Harmony’s family, friends and loved ones,” Formella said. “Our hearts go out to them.”
It was believed that Harmony went missing between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, when she was 5 years old, but police did not learn of her disappearance for more than two years.
>> Timeline in the disappearance of 8-year-old Harmony Montgomery
Formella said Harmony’s remains have not been located, but recently confirmed biological evidence and multiple sources of information have led investigators to the conclusion that she was killed. He did not provide any information about the evidence.
An emotional Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said he was saddened that it has transformed into a homicide investigation.
“As I stated from the beginning of this investigation and throughout, every effort has been made to bring Harmony home to her family,” he said. “Our commitment to bringing Harmony home has not wavered, nor will it.”
Officials did not take any questions at the news conference announcing the homicide investigation.
“Our greatest fears were confirmed today, and now our efforts shift to ensuring justice for Harmony,” Gov. Chris Sununu said. “I commend the tireless dedication of the law enforcement community for their unwavering efforts and commitment to transparency, and recognize they have much work ahead of them. We have come to know Harmony through her bright smiles in her photos and she will not be soon to be forgotten by her fellow Granite Staters.”
A 24-hour tip line is open to anyone who has information about Harmony. Anyone with any information can call or text 603-203-6060.
Watch a timeline of the investigation in the player below.
The ongoing search for a missing 5-year-old New Hampshire girl is now a murder investigation, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said Thursday. Harmony Montgomery disappeared sometime between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, but police did not learn of her disappearance from her for more than two years. Formella said all the evidence leads them to believe the child is dead. “All of the (investigative) efforts have led us to conclude that Harmony Montgomery was murdered in Manchester in early December of 2019,” he said. “At this point, while Harmony’s remains have not yet been located, we do have multiple sources of investigative information, including just recently confirmed biological evidence that have led us to this difficult and tragic conclusion.” Holding back tears, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg implored anyone with information to come forward. “I’m not asking you to do it for me, for the people in this room, the people who have been working on this investigation. Do it for this little girl who’s on the screen. The time is now. Time to step up and do the right thing,” he said. In June, law enforcement officers from state and federal agencies swarmed a Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment building where the girl’s father, Adam Montgomery, and his estranged wife Kayla Montgomery, previously lived. Officials were seen removing a refrigerator. Investigators wrapped the appliance in black plastic and loaded it onto a waiting truck. At the time of the girl’s disappearance, Adam Montgomery had legal custody of Harmony. He has been indicted on an assault charge alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019 He’s also accused of unrelated firearms theft charges and has pleaded not guilty.No charges have been directly filed in Harmony’s disappearance.Kayla Montgomery is charged with two felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury.The couple told police that Harmony was brought to be with her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Her mother said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter that year.Police have received hundreds of tips. They’re offering $150,000 for information that will lead them to the missing child. Anyone with information about Harmony Montgomery’s disappearance can call or text a 24-hour tip line at 603-203-6060.
MANCHESTER, NH—
The ongoing search for a missing 5-year-old New Hampshire girl is now a murder investigation, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said Thursday.
Harmony Montgomery disappeared sometime between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, but police did not learn of her disappearance for more than two years.
Formella said all the evidence leads them to believe the child is dead.
“All of the (investigative) efforts have led us to conclude that Harmony Montgomery was murdered in Manchester in early December of 2019,” he said. “At this point, while Harmony’s remains de ella have not yet been located, we do have multiple sources of investigative information, including just recently confirmed biological evidence that have led us to this difficult and tragic conclusion.”
Holding back tears, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg implored anyone with information to come forward.
“I’m not asking you to do it for me, for the people in this room, the people who have been working on this investigation. Do it for this little girl who’s on the screen. The time is now. Time to step up and do the right thing,” he said.
In June, law enforcement officers from state and federal agencies swarmed a Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment building where the girl’s father, Adam Montgomery, and his estranged wife Kayla Montgomery, previously lived.
Officials were seen removing a refrigerator. Investigators wrapped the appliance in black plastic and loaded it onto a waiting truck.
At the time of the girl’s disappearance, Adam Montgomery had legal custody of Harmony.
He has been indicted on an assault charge alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019. He’s also accused of unrelated firearms theft charges and has pleaded not guilty.
No charges have been directly filed in Harmony’s disappearance.
Kayla Montgomery is charged with two felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury.
The couple told police that Harmony was brought to be with her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Her mother said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter that year.
Police have received hundreds of tips. They’re offering $150,000 for information that will lead them to the missing child.
Anyone with information about Harmony Montgomery’s disappearance can call or text a 24-hour tip line at 603-203-6060.
A commercial truck driver who took drugs on the same day he was part of a grisly New Hampshire crash that killed seven motorcyclists was acquired Tuesday on all charges.
Driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy told police at the time he caused the accident, but jurors in less than three hours found him not guilty of seven counts each of manslaughter and negligent homicide, as well as one count of reckless conduct.
Zhukovskyy, 26, had been in jail since the June 21, 2019 crash where he continuously swerved back and forth leading up to the head-on collision.
The Massachusetts resident cried as the verdict was read and pointed toward the sky as he left the Coos County courtroom.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Our trial team did an excellent job and we firmly believe that the State provided its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.
The father of one of the victims was stunned by the verdict.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, of West Springfield, Mass., reacts to the not-guilty verdict at Coos County Superior Court in Lancaster, New Hampshire on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. AP
“Killing seven people and he gets off. That is unbelievable,” said Albert Mazza whose son Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr. died in the crash.
“It doesn’t make much sense,” the heart-stricken dad added. “There are seven people dead. There are seven families affected. It’s strange that he didn’t get something.”
But the defense team actually pointed the finger at Mazza Jr., saying he was drunk at the time of the crash. Lawyers for Zhukovskyy also argued Mazza wasn’t looking when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of the truck.
The judge previously tossed eight charges connected to whether Zhukovskyy was impaired at the time of the crash.
The family of Zhukonskyy, who was born in Ukraine, was grateful for the “honest and fair trial.”
“Our family expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragedy,” they said, adding he was “very honest and kind man. He would never have done anything to hurt anyone.”
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an immigration detainer on Zhukovskyy following the crash, which was executed after the verdict, said Coos County Corrections Department official.
He was served papers to appear before an immigration judge and will remain in ICE custody before the hearing, ICE said.
Zhukovskyy’s commercial driving license was supposed to be revoked in Massachusetts when the crash occurred because of a drunken driving arrest in Connecticut two months beforehand.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy looks back at the gallery before closing statements started at his trial.AP
But it wasn’t suspended due to a backlog of cases.
The killed motorcyclists, part of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, were from New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts and ranged from ages of 42 to 62.
Victims Mazza, couple Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, Michael Ferazzi, Desma Oakes, Daniel Pereira, and Aaron Perry were traveling in a larger group at the time of the crash.
Defense attorney Jay Duguay argued authorities ignored their own accident reconstruction unit that contradicted the assertion that Zhukovskyy crossed into the oncoming lane. He also mentioned inconsistencies from witnesses.
Prosecutor Scott Chase acknowledged the inconsistencies but noted witnesses on the stand were talking about “some of the most unimaginable chaos, trauma, death and carnage that we can even imagine three years later.”
He also argued Zhukovskyy continued to swerve “until he killed people.”
JEANNE, CREWS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING UP AND DOWN 93 ALL MORNING. TRAFFIC HAS NOT BEEN IMPACTED BY THE SEARCH AND CREWS ARE MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY. AND BEHIND US, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME STATE POLICE AND FISH AND GAME K-9 UNITS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW. ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, IN CONNECTION WITH LAST WEEK’S TRIPLE HOMICIDE IN NORTHFIELD. CREWS ARE FOCUSING ON THE AREA BETWEEN EXITS 17 AND 20 IN CONCORD, CANTERBURY, IN TILTON. IT WAS ONE WEEK AGO TODAY THAT THE BODIES OF 25 YEAR OLD CASSANDRA, FOUR YEAR OLD BENJAMIN AND ONE YEAR OLD MASON SWEENEY WERE FOUND INSIDE THEIR HOME ON THE DRIVE. ALL THREE HAD BEEN SHOT. CREWS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING SEVERAL AREAS SINCE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE. LAST WEEKEND THEY WERE SEARCHING NEAR THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE BODIES WERE FOUND. AND NEWS 9 HAS LEARNED THAT A STATE POLICE HELICOPTER HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED. BUT INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON WHAT, IF ANYTHING, HAS BEEN RECOVERED. AND AS OF TODAY, THERE STILL HAVEN’T BEEN ANY ARRESTS IN THIS CASE. HOPEFULLY, TODAY’S SEARCH WILL BRING US SOME ANSWERS. FOR NOW, WE’
Investigators conducting new search for physical evidence in Northfield triple-homicide case
Mother, two young sons killed in home
Updated: 12:54 PM EDT Aug 10, 2022
A new search is being conducted Wednesday in connection with the killings of a mother and her two young children in Northfield. The search in the area of Interstate 93 between Exits 17 and 20 in Concord, Canterbury and Tilton is for physical evidence in connection with the investigation into the shooting deaths of Kassandra Sweeney, 25, and her two sons, Benjamin Sweeney, 4, and Mason Sweeney, 1. Their bodies were discovered one week ago at their home on Wethersfield Drive in Northfield. Investigators said each died of a single gunshot wound.>> GoFundMe launched for funeral expenses Officials with the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said the search is not the result of new information in the case. Drivers are asked to follow all road signage in the area and give investigators the “appropriate space to complete their work.” A WMUR crew at the scene noticed that traffic was not being impacted by the search. New Hampshire State Police and New Hampshire Fish and Game K-9 units assisted in the search Wednesday. Another search was conducted over the weekend in the neighborhood near where the bodies were found. WMUR has also learned a state police helicopter has been involved in the ongoing evidence search. Investigators have not commented on what, if anything, has been recovered. In the wake of the killings, officials said there was no danger to the public, but they have not made an arrest in the case. They have only said that all parties involved have been accounted for. Previous coverage of this case: Father, husband of Northfield shooting victims speaks out on social media Authorities searching for evidence in connection to Northfield triple homicide investigation Officials say they believe they know everyone involved in Northfield homicides Crisis help offered to first responders called to scene of Northfield deaths Woman, 2 sons found shot, killed in Northfield home, attorney general says
CONCORD, NH—
A new search is being conducted Wednesday in connection with the killings of a mother and her two young children in Northfield.
The search in the area of Interstate 93 between Exits 17 and 20 in Concord, Canterbury and Tilton is for physical evidence in connection with the investigation into the shooting deaths of Kassandra Sweeney, 25, and her two sons, Benjamin Sweeney, 4, and Mason Sweney, 1.
Their bodies were discovered one week ago at their home on Wethersfield Drive in Northfield. Investigators said each died of a single gunshot wound.
>> GoFundMe launched for funeral expenses
Officials with the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said the search is not the result of new information in the case.
Drivers are asked to follow all road signage in the area and give investigators the “appropriate space to complete their work.” A WMUR crew at the scene noticed that traffic was not being impacted by the search.
New Hampshire State Police and New Hampshire Fish and Game K-9 units assisted in the search Wednesday.
Another search was conducted over the weekend in the neighborhood near where the bodies were found. WMUR has also learned a state police helicopter has been involved in the ongoing evidence search.
Investigators have not commented on what, if anything, has been recovered.
In the wake of the killings, officials said there was no danger to the public, but they have not made an arrest in the case. They have only said that all parties involved have been accounted for.
IS LIKELY TO COME NEXT IN ZHUKOVSKY CASE. JEANNE, THAT IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY SAYS LIKELY. WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS VLADIMIR SU KOSKI IS BEING PROCESSED BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO STRATFORD COUNTY JAIL, WHERE FEDERAL DETAINEES ARE HEAD INSTEAD OF BEING RELEASED FOLLOWING HIS ACQUITTAL. VLADIMIR TARKOWSKI REMAINS IN CUSTODY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, RANDOLPH ZOO KOSKI WAS ARRESTED BACK ON MAY 11TH OF 2019 FOR OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN CONNECTICUT IN ORDER TO HOLD ZHUKOVSKY AND ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN IMMIGRATION LAW, SAYS THAT MUCH LIKE PREVENTIVE DETENTION IN STATE COURTS, THE FEDS WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ZUKUNFT IS A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY OR A FLIGHT RISK. EVENTUALLY, THE FEDS WILL HAVE TO RELEASE HIM OR MAKE THEIR CASE BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE, NOTING ZHUKOVSKY STATUS. THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY BELIEVES IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE FEDS TO GET INVOLVED. I REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY HE’S BEING PUT IN THIS PREDICAMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT HE’S A PERMANENT RESIDENT. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT’S A LITTLE BIT ALARMING TO ME. ATTORNEY MESSER ADDS THAT ZHUKOVSKY IS ALSO A UKRAINIAN CITIZEN WHO NOW ENJOYS TEMPORARY PROTECTION AND STATUS, SO HE CANNOT BE DEPORTED. TARKOVSKY IS SET TO APPEAR IN A CONNECTICUT COURT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST FOR THE AUI CASE. LIVE IN THE STUDIO R
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy in ICE custody after being found not guilty in deadly crash, officials confirm
A Massachusetts man found not guilty in connection with the deaths of seven motorcyclists in a 2019 crash in New Hampshire is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed officials to WMUR. Officials said after Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was found not guilty on 15 charges, including manslaughter, negligent homicide and reckless conduct, he was taken into ICE custody in connection with an immigration detainer issued for him after the crash on Route 2 in Randolph in June 2019. >> Watch video from the courtroom as verdicts were read Zhukovskyy, 26, a citizen of Ukraine, was taken into ICE custody at the Grafton County Department of Corrections facility in North Haverhill and was served a notice to appear.” Zhukovskyy has an extensive criminal history including three prior convictions of charges that included Possession of Cocaine and Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Under Suspension, Furnishing False Information to an Officer and Larceny,” John Mohan, public af fairs officer and spokesperson for the New England Region of ICE, said.>> Timeline: Zhukovskyy’s driving history; see how case has evolvedHe will remain in ICE custody until he appears before an immigration judge, officials said.In order to hold Zhukovskyy, much like preventative detention in state courts, federal officials will have to demonstrate that Zhukovskyy is a threat to the community or a flight risk, according to Enrique Mesa, an attorney who specializes in immigration law. Eventually, the feds will have to release him or make their case before an immigration judge, Mesa said. Noting Zhukovskyy’s status, Mesa said he believes that it was unusual for the feds to get involved.”I really don’t understand why he is being put in this predicament, especially with the fact that he is a permanent resident and I think that’s what’s a little bit alarming to me,” Mesa said. Mesa said Zhukovskyy is likely being processed before being taken to Strafford County Jail, where federal detainees are held. Mesa added that as a citizen of Ukraine, Zhukovskyy enjoys temporary protected status, so he cannot be deported. Zhukovskyy has been in jail for the past three years as the case moved through the court system.>> Analyst: Jurors likely focused on narrow issue Massachusetts officials confirmed after the verdict was read that Zhukovskyy’s commercial driver’s license is disqualified, and his passenger license is suspended. Zhukovskyy has an unresolved operating-under-the-influence case in Connecticut since May 11, 2019. The case is scheduled to be heard on Sept. 1 in Hartford, Conn. Re-watch the trial:Verdicts read in courtroom Judge gives final instructions to jury before deliberations beginClosings: Jury instructions | Defense | ProsecutionJudge rejects final defense motion to dismiss Day 10 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4Day 9 of testimony: 2 troopers testify | Hearing over instructionsDay 8 of testimony: Defense begins caseDay 7 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Defense motions to dismiss | Judge dismisses some chargesDay 6 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 (WARNING: Language used during the Day 6 proceedings contains expletives. Viewer discretion is advised)Day 5 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Day 4 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6Day 3 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Day 2 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4Day 1 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Opening statements: Prosecution | Defense Jury view instructions: Judge speaks to jurors; both sides give statementsComplete trial coverage:Final day: Volodymyr Zhukovskyy found not guilty in crash that killed 7 motorcyclists in Randolph Day 10: Defense rests in trial of man charged in Randolph motorcycle crash Day 9: Pair of defense witnesses testify at Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 8: Defense begins case in Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 7: Judge dismisses 8 charges against Zhukovskyy; 15 charges remain Day 6: Video of police interview with defendant played at Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 5: Toxicology expert testifies as Randolph motorcycle crash trial continues for second week Day 4: Police interview with man accused of causing crash that killed 7 played in court Day 3: First responders testify about suspect’s behavior after Randolph crash that killed 7 Day 2: Witnesses testify about crash that killed 7 motorcyclists on second day of trial Day 1: Witnesses describe scene of crash that killed 7 motorcyclists as trial begins Jury view: Volodymyr Zhukovskyy trial jurors receive instructions, view crash scene
NORTH HAVERHILL, NH—
A Massachusetts man found not guilty in connection with the deaths of seven motorcyclists in a 2019 crash in New Hampshire is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials confirmed to WMUR.
Officials said after Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was found not guilty on 15 charges, including manslaughter, negligent homicide and reckless conduct, he was taken into ICE custody in connection with an immigration detainer issued for him after the crash on Route 2 in Randolph in June 2019.
>> Watch video from the courtroom as verdicts were read
Zhukovskyy, 26, a citizen of Ukraine, was taken into ICE custody at the Grafton County Department of Corrections facility in North Haverhill and was served a notice to appear.
“Zhukovskyy has an extensive criminal history including three prior convictions of charges that included Possession of Cocaine and Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Under Suspension, Furnishing False Information to an Officer and Larceny,” John Mohan, public affairs officer and spokesperson for the New England Region of ICE, said.
>> Timeline: Zhukovskyy’s driving history; see how case has evolved
He will remain in ICE custody until he appears before an immigration judge, officials said.
In order to hold Zhukovskyy, much like preventative detention in state courts, federal officials will have to demonstrate that Zhukovskyy is a threat to the community or a flight risk, according to Enrique Mesa, an attorney who specializes in immigration law.
Eventually, the feds will have to release him or make their case before an immigration judge, Mesa said.
Noting Zhukovskyy’s status, Mesa said he believes that it was unusual for the feds to get involved.
“I really don’t understand why he is being put in this predicament, especially with the fact that he is a permanent resident and I think that’s what’s a little bit alarming to me,” Mesa said.
Mesa said Zhukovskyy is likely being processed before being taken to Strafford County Jail, where federal detainees are held.
Mesa added that as a citizen of Ukraine, Zhukovskyy enjoys temporary protected status, so he cannot be deported.
Zhukovskyy has been in jail for the past three years as the case moved through the court system.
>> Analyst: Jurors likely focused on narrow issue
Massachusetts officials confirmed after the verdict was read that Zhukovskyy’s commercial driver’s license is disqualified, and his passenger license is suspended.
Zhukovskyy has an unresolved operating-under-the-influence case in Connecticut since May 11, 2019. The case is scheduled to be heard on Sept. 1 in Hartford, Conn.
The Wests Tigers have made an inquiry with Wigan about the prospect of bringing 2019 Dally M Backrower of the Year John Bateman back to the NRL in 2023.
In a move unrelated to Isaiah Papali’i having second thoughts about switching from Parramatta to Concord next year, Tigers director of football Tim Sheens has confirmed the club has made the approach.
The catch is going to be Bateman is under contract with Wigan until at least the end of 2024 and for now the Warriors have blocked the Tigers move.
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Bateman was one of the standout backrowers in the NRL the year the Canberra Raiders made the grand finale in 2019 before his tenure in the national capital sourced over a contract stalemate with the Green Machine.
Bateman then returned home to the UK at the end of the 2020 NRL season after inking a four-year deal with Wigan through until the end of 2024.
The Raiders were forced to pay a $250,000 transfer fee to Bradford to bring Bateman to the NRL the first time around but the one bonus with transfer fees to English clubs is they aren’t included in the NRL clubs salary cap.
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The Tigers have made a play for former Raiders star John Bateman.Source: Getty Images
The Bateman approach is creative thinking from Sheens trying to look outside the square and devise recruitment ploys aimed at overhauling the Wests Tigers roster.
The Tigers have made some recruitment moves this week by re-signing Brent Naden, Asu Kepoa and Starford To’a but the real recruitment space where they need to get busy is the re-signing of Adam Doueihi.
Doueihi is easily the Tigers best player, a local junior and the type of leader the Wests Tigers need to build the club around.
With Sheens and Benji Marshall now having control of the steering wheel at least it won’t be left to dithering management types to make another misguided mistake.
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‘He gets angry at some weird things’ | 01:13
The issue with Doueihi is he’s going to be a free agent as of November 1 and you can guarantee rival clubs are going to be getting the queue to try and convince the five-eighth to switch allegiances.
The Tigers need to sharpen their pencil and try and get a long-term deal done now prior to the stronger clubs being able to table a deal.
The Melbourne Storm have already had one crack at getting Doueihi on loan for the remainder of this year and with uncertainty surrounding the future of Cameron Munster the Tigers five-eighth would make an ideal replacement.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, of West Springfield, Mass., reacts to the not-guilty verdict at Coos County Superior Court in Lancaster, NH, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. The commercial truck driver was charged with negligent homicide in the deaths of seven motorcycles club members in a 2019 crash in Randolph, NH (David Lane/The Union Leader via AP, Pool)
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Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, of West Springfield, Mass., reacts to the not-guilty verdict at Coos County Superior Court in Lancaster, NH, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. The commercial truck driver was charged with negligent homicide in the deaths of seven motorcycles club members in a 2019 crash in Randolph, NH (David Lane/The Union Leader via AP, Pool)
CONCORD, NH (AP) — A jury on Tuesday acquired a commercial truck driver of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in a horrific head-on collision in northern New Hampshire that exposed fatal flaws in the processing of license revocations across states.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was found innocent on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct in connection with the June 21, 2019, crash in Randolph. Jailed since the crash, he appeared to wipe away tears as the verdict was read and briefly raised his index finger skyward before leaving the courtroom.
Jurors deliberated for less than three hours after a two-week trial during which prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy — who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine earlier on the day of the crash — repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight charges related to whether he was impaired, and his attorneys blamed the lead biker, Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., saying he was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyy’s truck.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Our trial team did an excellent job and we firmly believe that the State provided its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.
Zhukovskyy’s family, some of whom attended the trial, said in a statement they were grateful to God, the court and the defense attorneys for an “honest and fair trial.”
“Our family expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragedy,” the family said, describing him as a “very honest and kind man. He would never have done anything to hurt anyone.”
Zhukovskyy, who was born in Ukraine, remained jailed as of late Tuesday afternoon. It is unclear when he might be released. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an immigration detainer on him after the crash and that he was executed following the verdict, said Ben Champagne, the superintendent at the Coos County Department of Corrections.
ICE said in a statement that Zhukovskyy has been served a notice to appear before an immigration judge and will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of that appearance. It did not say where he is being held.
All seven motorcyclists killed were members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club. After the verdict, a member of the Marine group reached through Facebook declined to comment. Mazza’s father, also named Albert, said he was stunned.
“Killing seven people and he gets off. That is unbelievable,” said Mazza. He described his son of him as a “good man” who devoted much of his time to charity, and said it was wrong to pin blame on him.
“It doesn’t make much sense,” he said. “There are seven people dead. There are seven families affected. It’s strange that he didn’t get something.”
The motorcyclists who died were from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and ranged in age from 42 to 62. They were part of a larger group that had just left a motel along US Route 2 in Randolph.
Killed were Mazza, of Lee, New Hampshire; Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, a couple from Lakeville, Massachusetts; Michael Ferazzi, of Contocook, New Hampshire; Desma Oakes, of Concord, New Hampshire; Daniel Pereira, of Riverside, Rhode Island; and Aaron Perry, of Farmington, New Hampshire.
In closing statements Tuesday morning, the two sides raised questions about who was more “all over the place”: the trucker accused of swerving back and forth across the road or the eyewitnesses accused of contradicting each other.
“Those witnesses were all over the place about what they recalled and what they claimed to have seen,” said defense attorney Jay Duguay.
Duguay also accused prosecutors of ignoring that their own accident reconstruction unit contradicted their theory that Zhukovskyy crossed into the oncoming lane. An expert hired by the defense, meanwhile, testified that the crash happened on the center line of the road and would have occurred even if the truck was in the middle of its lane because Mazza’s motorcycle was heading in that direction.
“From the beginning of this investigation, the state had made up their mind about what had happened, evidence was damned,” said Duguay, who also highlighted inconsistencies between witness accounts or when witnesses contradicted themselves.
In particular, Duguay suggested that the bikers “shaded” their accounts to protect Mazza and the club. Prosecutor Scott Chase acknowledged some inconsistencies, but asked jurors to remember the circumstances.
“People were covering the dead, trying to save the barely living, comforting the dying. This wasn’t story time,” he said. “They were up here talking about some of the most unimaginable chaos, trauma, death and carnage that we can even imagine three years later. They were talking about hell broke open.”
Witnesses were consistent, he argued, in describing the truck as weaving back and forth before the crash. That behavior continued “until he killed people,” Chase said.
“That’s what stopped him. It’s not that he made some responsible decision to start paying attention or do the right thing,” he said. “The only thing that stopped him was an embankment after he tore through a group of motorcycles.”
Chase called the attempt to blame Mazza a “fanciful story” and “frivolous distraction,” while reminding jurors that Zhukovskyy, who didn’t testify at trial, told investigators “Obviously, I caused the crash.”
“He was crystal clear from the very beginning that he caused this crash,” Chase said. “That is what he said, because that is what happened.”
Zhukovskyy’s commercial driving license should have been revoked in Massachusetts at the time of the crash because of a drunken driving arrest in Connecticut about two months earlier.
Connecticut officials alerted the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, but Zhukovskyy’s license wasn’t suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. In a review, federal investigators found similar backlog problems in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and at least six other jurisdictions.
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Associated Press Writers Michael Casey and Kathy McCormack contributed to this report.
VLADIMIR ENTERS THE COURTROOM AS HIS TRIAL MOVES INTO ITS THIRD WEEK. THE DEFENSE’S FIRST WITNESS OF THE DAY, DETECTIVE SERGEANT TEMPEST KABALI, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE. KABALI TOLD JURORS ABOUT HIS INTERVIEW WITH SEAN MOYNAHAN, A MEMBER OF THE JARED’S MOTORCYCLE CLUB THAT TOOK PLACE THE DAY AFTER THE CRASH. KABALI THE JURY THAT MOYNAHAN SAID HE WAS INTOXICATED THAT NIGHT AND FOLLOWED BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLES IN A CAR WITH OTHER WOMEN. DID YOU FOLLOW WITH HIM AT ALL ON HIS STATEMENT THAT HE DRUNK? NO. DID YOU LEARN ANY OTHER NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE PERSONNEL TO THAT INFORMATION? NO. DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING. THE SECOND. REPORTED EVERYTHING YOU WAS. AND PROVIDED THAT TWO YEARS? YES BUT THE BULK OF MONDAY’S TESTIMONY FROM WILLIAM HOWERTON, A CRASH RECONSTRUCTION ANALYST WITH SCIENTIFIC WHILE PRESENTING A SIMULATION OF THE CRASH. HOWERTON TEST IFIED THAT THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE CENTER LINE AND SAYS THE SKIS TRUCK WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT THE TIME ADDING THAT IT WAS THE MOTORCYCLE OF ALBERT MAZUR HITTING ZUCKOFF TRUCK THAT CAUSED IT TO CROSS THE ROAD. BUT MR. ACOSTA’S TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WESTBOUND LANE. WOULD AN ACCIDENT STILL HAVE OCCURRED? AND IT IS. THE ROLL CYCLE WAS HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. MR. MAZUR WAS NOT IN A STEADY STATE TURN. AND THEN THE MOTORCYCLE SLID. THERE’S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. CLOSING ARGUMENTS TOMORROW MORNING. RE
Defense remains in trial of man charged in Randolph motorcycle crash
The defense rested Monday in the trial of a man accused of causing a crash in 2019 that killed seven motorcycle riders. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, is on trial for multiple felony charges in the deadly crash on Route 2 in Randolph.>> Timeline: Zhukovskyy’s driving history; see how case has evolved Prosecutors have argued that Zhukovskyy was seen driving across the yellow line before the crash, but the defense has argued the lead motorcyclist, who was killed in the crash, was at fault. New Hampshire State Police Detective Sgt. Kempes Corbally testified about the interviews he conducted in the days immediately following the crash, saying the first statement out of club member Sean Moynihan’s mouth was that he was intoxicated. Moynihan told police he was following in a car with two women at the time of the crash. The defense seized on the intoxication testimony, asking whether Corbally asked what he had been drinking, where he had been drinking or whether other motorcyclists had been drinking. Corbally said he didn’t. After the prosecution rested last week, the judge dismissed eight charges against Zhukovskyy alleging that he was impaired at the time of the crash. He is still facing charges accusing him or driving recklessly. The bulk of Monday’s testimony came from William Howerton, a crash reconstruction analyst with Scientific Boston. While presenting a simulation of the crash, Howerton testified that the impact happened on the center line and said Zhukovsyy’s truck was traveling straight at the time. Howerton testified that he believes it was the motorcycle of Albert Mazza hitting Zhukvoskyy’s truck that caused the truck to cross the road. The jury is scheduled to receive final instructions from the judge Tuesday morning, followed by closing statements from both sides. Trial videos:Day 10 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4Day 9 of testimony: 2 troopers testify | Hearing over instructionsDay 8 of testimony: Defense begins caseDay 7 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Defense motions to dismiss | Judge dismisses some chargesDay 6 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 (WARNING: Language used during the Day 6 proceedings contains expletives. Viewer discretion is advised)Day 5 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Day 4 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6Day 3 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Day 2 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Day 1 of testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Opening statements: Prosecution | Defense Jury view instructions: Judge speaks to jurors; both sides give statementsZhukovskyy is facing charges including negligent homicide, manslaughter and reckless conduct in connection with the crash that resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club:Michael Ferazzi, 62, of ContoocookAlbert Mazza, 59, of LeeDesma Oakes, 42 , of ConcordAaron Perry, 45, of FarmingtonDaniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, Rhode IslandJo-Ann and Edward Corr, both 58, of Lakeville, MassachusettsPrevious trial coverage:Day 9: Pair of defense witnesses testify at Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 8: Defense begins case in Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 7: Judge dismisses 8 charges against Zhukovskyy; 15 charges remain Day 6: Video of police interview with defendant played at Randolph motorcycle crash trial Day 5: Toxicology expert testifies as Randolph motorcycle crash trial continues for second week Day 4: Police interview with man accused of causing crash that killed 7 played in court Day 3: First responders testify about suspect’s behavior after Randolph crash that killed 7 Day 2: Witnesses testify about crash that killed 7 motorcyclists on second day of trial Day 1: Witnesses describe scene of crash that killed 7 motorcyclists as trial begins Jury view: Volodymyr Zhukovskyy trial jurors receive instructions, view crash sceneWMUR will have full coverage of the trial and will stream it live at WMUR.com and inside the WMUR mobile app.
LANCASTER, NH—
The defense rested Monday in the trial of a man accused of causing a crash in 2019 that killed seven motorcycle riders.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, is on trial for multiple felony charges in the deadly crash on Route 2 in Randolph.
>> Timeline: Zhukovskyy’s driving history; see how case has evolved
Prosecutors have argued that Zhukovskyy was seen driving across the yellow line before the crash, but the defense has argued the lead motorcyclist, who was killed in the crash, was at fault.
New Hampshire State Police Detective Sgt. Kempes Corbally testified about the interviews he conducted in the days immediately following the crash, saying the first statement out of club member Sean Moynihan’s mouth was that he was intoxicated. Moynihan told police he was following in a car with two women at the time of the crash.
The defense seized on the intoxication testimony, asking whether Corbally asked what he had been drinking, where he had been drinking or whether other motorcyclists had been drinking. Corbally said he didn’t.
After the prosecution rested last week, the judge dismissed eight charges against Zhukovskyy alleging that he was impaired at the time of the crash. He is still facing charges accusing him or driving recklessly.
The bulk of Monday’s testimony came from William Howerton, a crash reconstruction analyst with Scientific Boston. While presenting a simulation of the crash, Howerton testified that the impact happened on the center line and said Zhukovsyy’s truck was traveling straight at the time.
Howerton testified that he believes it was the motorcycle of Albert Mazza hitting Zhukvoskyy’s truck that caused the truck to cross the road.
The jury is scheduled to receive final instructions from the judge Tuesday morning, followed by closing statements from both sides.
trial videos:
Zhukovskyy is facing charges including negligent homicide, manslaughter and reckless conduct in connection with the crash that resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club:
Michael Ferazzi, 62, of Contoocook
Albert Mazza, 59, of Lee
Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord
Aaron Perry, 45, of Farmington
Daniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, Rhode Island
Jo-Ann and Edward Corr, both 58, of Lakeville, Massachusetts
Previous trial coverage:
WMUR will have full coverage of the trial and will stream it live at WMUR.com and inside the WMUR mobile app.
