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Remy changes plea to guilty in stabbing death of girlfriend | Local News – WCVB Home
By Veronica Haynes
May 27, 2014
Martel stabbed to death in August 2013
Jared Remy will spend the rest of his life in prison after changing his plea to guilty in the 2013 stabbing death of his girlfriend, Jennifer Martel.
“Blame me for this, not my family,” Remy, 35, told the court moments before being led away in shackles to begin the mandatory life sentence that comes with a first-degree murder conviction.’
Remy on Tuesday changed his plea to guilty to charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and violating a restraining order in connection with the 27-year-old’s death.
I’m the bad apple,” Remy told the court Tuesday. “I know my family would rather have me dead, not her.”
According to Assistant District Attorney Lisa McGovern, the Aug. 15 attack began inside the couple’s Stearns Hill Road apartment before spilling out onto a patio, where Martel screamed for help.
McGovern said Remy continued to stab and slash the woman with a knife as neighbors tried to pull him away. At the end of the attack, Remy removed his blue tank top, put it over her face and walked away, witnesses said.’
Martel was pronounced dead a short time later. Remy was arrested at the scene.
Remy showed no emotion Tuesday as McGovern read a detailed account from witnesses of Martel’s last moments. When asked if he committed the acts outlined in the statement, Remy replied, “Yes, I did.”
Remy said on the night of Aug. 15, Martel had a knife and threatened to take away his daughter.
“I always told Jen she could leave, but do not threaten me with my daughter,” Remy said. “That night Jen had a knife in her hand and threatened me with my daughter. So I killed her.”
Remy said he had never been treated for mental health issues, but was taking Zoloft for depression.
“Jared Remy took full responsibility for the death of his fiancee, Jennifer Martel. He stood up in the courtroom, answered all the judge’s questions and took full responsibility,” defense attorney Ed Ryan said.
In a statement from Martel’s parents, Brian Sr. and Patty, read by Alec Zadek, the family said they have been living a nightmare.
“We still dream about it. The drive to keep living is gone. The only thing keeping us together, besides God, is our children and grandchildren,” Zadek read.
“When I lost my sister, I lost a part of me,” Martel’s brother, Brian Jr., wrote in a statement that was read in court.
Ryan said Remy specifically asked that his father, former Red Sox second-basemen and current broadcaster Jerry Remy; mother, Phoebe; and siblings not attend Tuesday’s proceedings.
We continue to be heartbroken over Jenn’s death. That will never change,” Remy’s parents said in a statement issued through Ryan.
“No words can express the sorrow we feel for the Martel family,” they said. “We are now focusing our attention on our grandchildren and doing what is best for them.”
The Martels urged other families not to ignore the warning signs of domestic abuse.
“Our family’s world will never be the same. There will always be sadness. When she died, a part of us died, too,” Zadek read.
Two days before her death, Remy was charged with assault and battery after allegedly pushing Martel into a mirror. Remy was released on personal recognizance on Aug. 14.
Martel got an emergency temporary restraining order after the incident.
The Martel and Remy families reached a custody agreement for the couple’s 5-year-old daughter Arianna in March. The girl is living with Martel’s brother, Brian Jr. and his family.