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Teen pleads not guilty in Framingham park slaying

E-mail|Link|Comments () June 23, 2009 04:03 PM

By David Abel, Globe Staff

A 17-year-old Marlborough man pleaded not guilty today to charges of slaying an acquaintance over the weekend in Framingham's Callahan State Park after the two had a fight at a party, prosecutors said.

Marquise Brown was arraigned in Framingham District Court on charges he fatally shot Tyriffe Lewis, 17, of Marlborough, according to the Middlesex district attorney's office. Brown was charged with first-degree murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.

Judge Paul Healy ordered Brown held without bail.

"This defendant and the victim were engaged in a physical and verbal confrontation on Friday evening," District Attorney Gerry Leone said in a statement. "We allege that the defendant went to the park with the victim the next day, shooting the unarmed victim in retaliation for what transpired between them the day before."

Prosecutors said Brown fired multiple shots and left Lewis dead on a wooded trail in the park near Edmands Road.

Donna Paruti, a Framingham attorney representing Brown, did not return calls seeking comment. Relatives of Brown and Lewis could not be reached.

Prosecutors said the two attended several of the same parties on Friday night in Marlborough. They described the victim as "getting the best" of the defendant during their fights. Apparently, Brown then told friends he planned to kill Lewis.

The next day Brown took a handgun with him to the park and shot Lewis in the chest and hip, prosecutors said. It's not clear whether they went to the park together or whether Brown forced Lewis to go to the park.