May 30, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly (508) 368-7236
or Paul Jarvey (508) 368-7241
WORCESTER — A Superior Court jury today found convicted drug dealer Matteo Trotto guilty of first-degree murder in the 1994 killing of Kevin Harkins, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Judge Richard T. Tucker scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Tuesday. Mr. Trotto faces a mandatory life sentence without parole. He has been serving a 23-year state prison sentence since 1999 when he was convicted on 11 drug and weapons charges, including trafficking in cocaine.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Assistant District Attorney Dan Bennett and the prosecution team,” Mr. Early said. “Our office, the Worcester Police Department and the State Police Detectives did not let this case die. This was one of the most complex and difficult prosecutions I’ve ever seen.”
Mr. Harkins was called out of Suney’s Pub on Chandler Street on Feb. 15, 1994 and was
never seen again. Witnesses testified that they saw Mr. Trotto, 48, call Mr. Harkins from Suney’s that night and get into a car with him and two other men. Mr. Harkins left personal items on the bar, but he never returned and was declared dead in 2008 by the Worcester Family and Probate Court.
Mr. Bennett told the jury Mr. Harkins was murdered because he reneged on a deal to give false testimony in a drug trial in exchange for a bag of cocaine.
Elias Samia of Worcester and John R. Fredette of Saco, Maine, also charged with Mr. Harkins’ murder, are scheduled to go on trial in June in Worcester Superior Court.
Mr. Early thanked Assistant District Attorneys Bennett, Terrence M. Reidy and Stephen Carley for their work on the case. He also praised Worcester Police Detectives and State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s office for their investigation.
“Kevin Harkins’ family and friends now have justice,” Mr. Early said.