ATTLEBORO - A 51-year-old city man is facing a charge of murder in the death of his brother, Richard McCormick, of North Attleboro.
James McCormick of 6 Melissa Drive in the Oakhill mobile home park off Oakhill Avenue in Attleboro was arraigned on the murder charge Friday in Attleboro District Court.
Our partners at The Sun Chronicle reported McCormick was arrested shortly after the alleged attack was reported at about 3:25 a.m. Monday.
He pleaded not guilty the following day to armed assault with intent to murder and assault with battery.
The charges were upgraded during Friday’s court appearance.
David Linton reported McCormick’s lawyer, Frank Camara, said his client stabbed his 47-year-old brother, Richard, in self-defense.
James McCormick is being held without bail. Richard McCormick suffered eight to 10 stab wounds to his head, neck, chest and right arm and was found on the ground near his brother’s mobile home, a prosecutor said.
He was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead about a half-hour later. The defendant’s lawyer said Richard McCormic had been drinking and started an argument with his client outside the mobile home before the argument turned physical.
The lawyer said Richard McCormick punched and pushed his client’s girlfriend when she tried to intervene before he was stabbed.
The 53-year-old woman told police that both men appeared to be intoxicated and were arguing.
She said she went outside and attempted to deescalate the situation when she was “accidentily” punched, causing her to fall to the ground, according to the police report.
James McCormick allegedly told police he was defending his girlfriend and claimed his brother stood over her with a weapon, according to the report.
The first arriving officers say they heard James McCormick and his girlfriend yelling when they approached the rear door to the screened porch of the mobile home.
“So, you’re not going to help me and tell me it’s self-defense? He tried to stab me,” James McCormick allegedly said to his girlfriend, according to a report filed by Attleboro Detective Keith Shepard.
