May 1, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Jarvey (508) 368-7241
WORCESTER — A Worcester Superior Court jury today found Aldo W. Dunphe guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 slaying of a fellow patient in the psychiatric ward of UMass-Memorial Medical Center, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Mr. Dunphe, 26, beat, choked and tried to suffocate Ratna Bhattarai on Nov. 5, 2013. Mr. Bhattarai died two days later. The jury found that Mr. Dunphe carried out the killing with extreme atrocity or cruelty, one of the two theories of first-degree murder presented by prosecutors.
Mr. Dunphe was also found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.
Judge James R. Lemire scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Thursday. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
“I applaud the work of our prosecution team of Assistant District Attorneys David P. Feraco, Christopher P. Hodgens Al Grudzinskas, and the investigative efforts of the State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and UMass Police.”