Insanity defense fails. Guilty verdicts in murder case of slain Weymouth cop, bystander

DEDHAM – Clerk Jim McDermott asked the jury foreman for their verdict on the charge of the murder of Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna against Emanuel Lopes.

"Guilty of murder in the first degree," the foreman replied.

The words prompted cheers from Chesna's family, friends, supporters and fellow police officers at Norfolk Superior Court on Friday afternoon.

McDermott then asked for the verdict in the death of Vera Adams, a Weymouth resident who was shot on her sun proch.

"Guilty of murder in the second degree," the foreman replied.

Nine more questions, nine more responses of guilty. Guilty on all charges, some on lesser charges, from the jury of nine women and three men from Bristol County. The jury had deliberated for about 32 hours over six days to reach its verdicts, after sending three notes to the judge saying they were deadlocked.

The Chesna family had a group hug in the courtroom when the session ended..

Judge Beverly Cannone set March 19 for sentencing for Lopes, 26, of Brockton. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison on the first-degree murder charge. The conviction will automatically be appealed to the state Supreme Judicial Court.

It was the second time Lopes was tried on the charges related to the events of July 15, 2018. The first ended in a mistrial on July 10, 2023, when that jury could not reach a unanimous decision.

Cindy Chesna, Michael's widow, thanked everyone involved in prosecuting and trying the case. Chesna attended each day of both trials as well as hearings in the case. She said she planned to go home and hug their two children, since she no longer has to spend time away from them in court.

She said of the verdict, "It was like a weight off my shoulders."

Charles Chesna, the officer's father, said of the verdict, "we got what we deserve."

And the officer's mother, Mimi Chesna, said all her son wanted to be was a police officer, and he went into the Army to improve his chances. She thanked the news media for their coverage of the case, saying it kept his name alive..

Lopes defense says he was mentally ill

Lopes' defense did not dispute the charges against him, but said he was not criminally responsible because of his history of mental illness.

On Wednesday, jurors asked Cannone whether they had to determine what type of mental illness or defect Lopes had when he killed Chesna and Adams.

Cannone responded that they only have to determine whether he had a mental illness, not what type.

In addition to the murder charges, Lopes faced nine other charges, including shooting at two other Weymouth police officers and hitting Chesna in the head with a rock.

Police sergeant's gun used in slaying

The defense conceded that Lopes used Chesna's service weapon to fire the shots that killed Chesna and Adams. But they contend that Lopes has a long history of mental illness, documented by expert witnesses and "thousands" of pages of medical records introduced as evidence, and lacked criminal responsibility for his actions.

"He did not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct," defense lawyer Larry Tipton said during closing arguments earlier this month.

Assistant Norfolk County District Attorney Greg Connor disagreed, telling the jury that Lopes "can conform his conduct to the law."

More: Lopes lawyer asks for mistrial after jury twice tells judge it is deadlocked

Cannone had called the case "complex," with lots of evidence and expert testimony to go through.

Lopes' first trial ended with Cannone declaring a mistrial after one juror refused to deliberate further. That jury had deliberated for about 24 hours over six days after hearing 14 days of testimony.

The jury in the first trial also had nine women and three men and was selected in Worcester County. The juries were selected in other counties to avoid pretrial publicity.

Lopes was also found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for hitting Chesna in the head with a rock, two counts of assault to kill for shooting at Weymouth Police Officers Sean Murphy and Nicholas Marini, carrying a firearm without a license, larceny of a firearm, leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, use of a motor vehicle without authority and malicious destruction of property with a value under $1,200.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Emanuel Lopes found guilty in murder trial verdict