Teen charged in slaying of Brockton cabbie

March 25, 2008 01:17 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By John R. Ellement and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

A 17-year-old charged with fatally shooting a Brockton cab driver was arrested after he told friends and acquaintances about shooting the man in the back of the head, a prosecutor said today in court.

Adilson Neves also left behind a distinct size 10 1/2 sneaker splattered with blood at the scene of the slaying on Galen Street in Brockton on Feb. 16, said Lewis Armistead Jr., an assistant district attorney.

Neves gave a taped confession after he was taken into custody, Armistead said, and he admitted that the 10 1/2 sneaker was his shoe. Armistead said in court that Neves also described for investigators how he lured Edward Conley onto the dead end street, jumped in his cab, put the gun to the back of his head, and pulled the trigger.

Neves was ordered held without bail after his arraignment today in Brockton District Court on charges that include murder, attempted armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

“We are letting people understand that if they choose to commit a crime here in the City of Brockton, they will be caught, they will be prosecuted, and I assure you they will be convicted,” Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said after the hearing.

Defense Arthur L. Kelley said he did not know enough to discuss specifics of the case. Kelley said that his client was “nervous and concerned as anyone would be in his position.”

News of his arrest came on a day that Governor Deval Patrick was heading to Brockton to discuss public safety with local officials. Patrick is scheduled to attend a meeting at the Brockton police station at 3:45 p.m.