Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Chism the Chiseler

"Philip Chism arraigned for alleged assault on state worker" by Maria Cramer | Globe staff   July 23, 2014

He waited until he was sure no one was watching, then followed the young woman to the bathroom, prosecutors said. When she came out, she was face to face with the tall, lanky teenager, who immediately attacked.

Philip Chism grabbed the woman by the throat, stabbed her with a pencil, and punched her repeatedly in the face and head, prosecutors said.

In its planning and execution, the June 2 assault was frighteningly similar to the October 2013 rape and slaying of 24-year-old Colleen Ritzer in a bathroom in Danvers High School, where she was a teacher and Chism a student.

But this time the victim survived, saved by co-workers who heard her screams.

Chism, 15, was arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court as a youthful offender Wednesday, accused of attacking a female clinician at the facility where he was being held. Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Mark Zanini said Chism and the unnamed woman had known each other for months. She had been working at the Department of Youth Services facility in Dorchester, where Chism was awaiting trial on charges that he killed Ritzer.

“The defendant’s intent to murder in this case was proven not only by his conduct on June 2, 2014,” Zanini said. “His intent to murder was proven by his conduct in October 2013.”

Chism has pleaded not guilty to Ritzer’s killing. In court Wednesday, the 6-foot-2 teen, dressed in a blue Oxford shirt and khaki pants, kept his head bowed low and his shoulders hunched as Zanini read the allegations against him....

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Also see: Send Chism to Bridgewater

NEXT DAY UPDATEChism seeks trial as juvenile in murder of Danvers teacher

FURTHER UPDATESChism denied juvenile trial in teacher murder case