Conviction Upheld In 'Horror Story' Murder: The HUB

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at alex.newman@patch.com.

Today is Tuesday, October 5. Let's get started.

A convicted killer who terrorized three women in South Boston over the course of a day in 2013 was denied a new trial Monday.

The state's highest court ruled that Edwin Alemany was not denied a fair trial based on comments made by the judge and prosecutor.

"Describing the alleged crimes as part of a 'horror story' did not rise past the level of excusable hyperbole," the Supreme Judicial Court wrote.

On July 23, 2013, Alemany attacked three young women, two of whom survived and testified against him in court. He was convicted of kidnapping and murdering 24-year-old Amy Lord, who he stabbed to death after forcing her to make a series of ATM withdrawals.

Alemany attempted to plead insanity, but the SJC found that because prosecutors proved his "loss of capacity" resulted from voluntarily taking alcohol or drugs, he "may be held criminally responsible."

Read more from the Boston Herald.

Top stories

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins is getting flack for a proposal to house drug users living on Methadone Mile in an empty jail. Opponents say it isn't law enforcement's business, and drug treatment should be handled by health care professionals. But Attorney General Maura Healey thinks "all options need to be on the table" to address the ongoing crisis. (Boston Globe)

Parking is once again free at the country's first public beach. Following a CBS I-Team investigation, lawmakers passed emergency legislation to remove parking meters from Revere Beach. The DCR, which owns the road along the beach, quietly installed them during the pandemic. (CBS Boston)

An unprecedented response to an unprecedented action: Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins broke protocol by hitting back against critics stalling her confirmation to be U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts. Rollins called Republicans' claims that she is pro-crime "surreal," days after a deadlocked Senate panel forced what will likely be the first roll call vote in nearly 30 years. (GBH)

Local voices

"This is wrong. Don’t do it to the families. Don’t do it. Think about what you are doing to the victims’ families and what they have to go through." - Tom Ritzer, father of slain Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer, on a proposal to eliminate sentences of life without parole (Boston 25)

"The question of how to make Boston Latin School more diverse has become the third rail in Boston education politics." - Marcela García, Boston Globe

"Someone said that when I became Mayor of Boston, it brought the city together. But that’s not true." - Ray Flynn, Boston Herald

"Public transit is the lifeline on which every other asset of daily life in Massachusetts depends, from jobs and education to community, culture, and care. But all across the state, it’s a mess." - Ben Downing, candidate for governor, Commonwealth Magazine

'Music to my ears'

That's how Senate President Karen Spilka – commuters, too, unless they have a masochistic streak – is feeling about assurances from the Baker administration that tolls will not go up to fund the $1.7 billion project to replace the aging highways and transportation infrastructure along the Mass Pike in Allston.

Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler said funding will come from Harvard University, the city of Boston, existing toll revenue and potentially the held-up infrastructure bill. (Commonwealth Magazine)

In case you missed it

Police are investigating who set off fireworks at a football game between Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and Fitchburg High School Friday night. L-S Superintendent Bella Wong said parts of fireworks "sprayed or landed in the visitor bleachers, onto the field and into the air overhead."

No one was injured, but "many individuals" were frightened, some "extremely so," Wong said.

What I'm reading today: I don't want to jinx it, but it looks like "No Time To Die," Daniel Craig's last ride as James Bond, is finally hitting theaters (it was originally supposed to come out in November 2019). This is the not-so-definitive – as in, I disagree with it – ranking of the best Bond movies of all time. (Men's Journal)

Weather: The National Weather Service says rain likely, mainly before 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 54. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

– Alex Newman

About me: Alex is a Jersey transplant covering Arlington, Malden, Medford, Reading and Somerville for Patch. A graduate of Northeastern University, Alex has lived in the Boston area since college (though he still hasn't been able to bring himself to root for the Sox). He is an avid football and baseball fan, amateur woodworker and film geek. Alex lives in Chelsea with his fiancée, their dog and a revolving door of foster puppies.