Lewiston man found guilty in murder of Bates student

AUBURN – Families of the victim and defendant broke into tears as jurors pronounced a Lewiston man guilty of murder Thursday in the stabbing of a Bates College student during an early-morning street brawl last March.

Brandon Thongsavanh faces 25 years to life in prison for the death of Morgan McDuffee, a 22-year-old Bates senior and captain of the lacrosse team who grew up in New Hampshire.

Jurors returned their verdict after reviewing audio and videotapes of police interviews with Thongsavanh after the killing. Deliberations lasted for less than four hours over two days in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

“I don’t think there’s any joy in the verdict,” said McDuffee’s fiancee, Suzanna Andrew of Portland. “It does provide some sort of comfort that [Thongsavanh] won’t be able to take another life, or a piece of anyone else’s life.”

Justice Ellen Gorman said the sentencing would likely be in May, after a pre-sentence investigation and psychological evaluation. Thongsavanh’s attorney, William Maselli, said an appeal is likely.

Thongsavanh was accused of stabbing McDuffee five times in the chest and back during a random encounter at 2:45 a.m. on Lewiston’s Main Street between two groups of young men who had been partying at separate locations.

Prosecutors said the March 3, 2002, stabbing occurred as McDuffee was breaking up a fight between a group of local young men and three Bates students.

During the trial, Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese told jurors that Thongsavanh was the only person seen with a knife before, during and after the stabbing, lied to police about his whereabouts and got rid of the clothes he was wearing.

Maselli tried to convince jurors that other people involved in the melee were likely responsible for the stabbing, and that witnesses’ memories were shaky because they had been drinking or using drugs that night.

After the verdict, Maselli said he would consider “every avenue of appeal in this case.”

Maselli maintained that some items – including a photo that showed his client with tattoos on his head and around his neck – should not have been allowed into evidence because they prejudiced the case against Thongsavanh. He also objected to jurors being allowed to hear references to Thongsavanh’s criminal history.

“The case wasn’t even close based on the evidence,” Maselli said.

Thongsavanh showed no outward emotion when jurors were polled one by one on the verdict, but sobbing could be heard on both sides of the courtroom, where family members and friends of both Thongsavanh and McDuffee sat.

The victim’s father, Regis McDuffee of Newburyport, Mass., said he was surprised by the quick verdict, adding, “It’s really a big part of the healing process.”

McDuffee said he was not optimistic about the possible outcome when the investigation began, but said prosecutors and police “worked tirelessly” to build their case. Thongsavanh, who maintained his innocence, did not testify during the nearly two-week trial.

“It’s really been an emotional ordeal for the entire family, and I’m sure it is for their family,” said McDuffee.

Dylan McDuffee, 21, of Peterborough, N.H., who was with his brother at the time of the stabbing, said the verdict “will give us an opportunity to move on.”

Thongsavanh’s parents left the courthouse without comment, but Masselli said they were “completely devastated” by the verdict.

Afterward, Thongsavanh was returned to Androscoggin County Jail, where he has been held without bail since his arrest. Thongsavanh’s father works as a cook at Bates.

Celeste Branham, the private college’s dean of students, said the case was tragic because “two sons are lost.”