Crime & Safety

New Haven Man, 48, Gets 12 Years In Domestic Violence Assault Case

A jury found Harold Bell guilty of attacking, seriously injuring the victim in front of her teen daughter, who tried to stop the assault.

NEW HAVEN, CT — Harold Bell, 48, of New Haven, was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison, for a 2022 domestic violence assault in New Haven, according to State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. announced

A jury in New Haven Superior Court in November 2023 convicted Bell of second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a minor and other charges.

Doyle said based on evidence introduced at trial, Bell assaulted the domestic violence victim in New Haven on July 13, 2022, while her 15-year-old daughter was present.

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During the assault, the defendant strangled the victim in a chokehold from behind, shoved the daughter into a wall when she attempted to intervene, and punched the victim three times in the forehead with a closed fist, Doyle said. The victim received a significant injury to her forehead, which required three sutures and left a permanent scar, he added.

The case was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen E. Morgan and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David J. Strollo.

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