Santoni (16) case may be settled
(Killed gay basher in street fight)

By JIM DANKO, Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - Matthew R. Santoni, accused of murder in the fatal stabbing of a classmate last year, could see a resolution in the case short of trial, lawyers said Monday. Santoni, 16, of 394 Bridge Road, Northampton, is charged in the May 22 fatal stabbing of Jeffrey LaMothe, also 16, of Spring Street. LaMothe was a classmate at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. "We're going to have a court date in the middle of June, potentially to resolve this case in some sort of way,'' said Alan J. Black of Springfield, Santoni's lawyer.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney David Ross echoed Black's comments.

"We have been discussing possibilities for a disposition, and we're working toward that end,'' Ross said. "I'm not going to get into the specifics at this point.'' A disposition could involve a plea at a lesser charge, such as manslaughter.

Although Santoni is legally a juvenile, prosecutors have charged him as an adult in the stabbing. Santoni has pleaded innocent to murder. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers met Monday with Judge Robert H. Bohn Jr. in Worcester Superior Court to discuss the case. Santoni was being held in the juvenile section of the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, but was moved several months ago to a different juvenile center, Black said.

In court documents, prosecutors have portrayed Santoni as a rage-filled, suicidal teen-ager who stabbed LaMothe during a fight on Pleasant Street witnessed by several people. But Black has said Santoni was a victim of anti-gay slurs and fought with LaMothe in self defense. Acquaintances of the two teen-agers said LaMothe had been taunting Santoni for some time with anti-gay remarks.

The fatal fight occurred around 2:30 p.m., when Santoni was standing on the sidewalk with three friends, according to prosecutors. He saw a truck pass by and recognized LaMothe. LaMothe shouted at Santoni, who yelled back and made an obscene gesture, prosecutors have said in court documents.

Santoni told authorities he removed a knife from his pocket, hid it in his jeans, then began to swing the weapon at LaMothe during the fight, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors say Santoni fatally stabbed LaMothe in the chest, piercing his heart.

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