Salem Murder Suspect Says He Was Justified In Shooting Man Outside Manchester Bar: Docs

MANCHESTER, NH — The Salem man accused of fatally killing Timothy Pouliot is asking the court for a bail hearing where he will enter a notice of self-defense.

John Delee, 22, was at the Goat Bar and Grill on Jan. 28, and was removed from the bar by security. Shortly after being removed from the bar, an interaction between Delee and Pouliot occurred on Old Granite Street just east of the restaurant.

In a video shared thousands of times on social media, Pouliot was seen throwing a single punch. Immediately after the punch, Delee fires eight shots into Pouliot, who died at the scene, despite immediate medical attention.

It was determined after an autopsy was completed that the victim died from multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was classified as a homicide. Pouliot’s mother, Michelle, said her son was shot eight times including in the chest, shoulder, and abdomen.

In court paperwork filed in the Hillsborough County Superior Court Attorney Benjamin Falkner a notice of self-defense.

The paperwork says, “Defendant John Delee hereby notifies the state that he intends to rely on self-defense, consistent with R.S.A. 627:4 (II)(A) which allows the use of deadly force upon reasonable belief that another person is about to use unlawful, deadly force against the actor.”

In this case, Delee expected the evidence to demonstrate his reasonable belief that the complaining witness was about to use unlawful deadly force against the defendant, according to the court paperwork.

Delee further relies upon R.S.A. 627:4(II-a), “which provides that a person who responds to a threat which would be considered by a reasonable person as likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to the person or another person making the threat to the person or to another by displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense with the intent to warn away the person making the cheat shall not have committed a criminal act.”

Falkner said Delee expected the evidence to demonstrate he displayed a firearm in order to warn away a person or persons making or having made a threat that a reasonable person would consider as likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to himself. Delee noted, pursuant to R.S.A. 627:4 (III)(A), he had no duty to retreat because, at the time, deadly force was used in self-defense, he had the right to be where he was located. Delee was not the initial aggressor, and assuming arguendo, without conceding, that he had a duty to retreat, he could not retreat to complete safety.

Falkner filed a witness list for the bail hearing and indicated at least three people will be called to testify at the hearing scheduled on February 24th at 1:30 p.m.

Delee waived his arraignment on second-degree murder and reckless conduct charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court after he was arrested by Manchester police. On the day of the arraignment, Delee's attorney said he was confident his client would be found not guilty. He was ordered held on preventative detention at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections after entering not guilty pleas through his attorney.

The victim of the shooting, Pouliot, was well-known in the Manchester community and was the father of a 3-year-old girl, his mother called it a "senseless shooting"

After the bail hearing a judge will rule if Delee should remain in custody or be released until a trial is held.

Also Read

• Man Shot And Killed Near Manchester Bar On Old Granite Street
• Salem Man Accused Of Fatally Shooting Manchester Man After Argument
• Manchester Gunshot Victim's Death Ruled A Homicide After Autopsy
• Accused Shooter John Delee Enters Plea Of Not Guilty In Fatal Shooting
• Family Devastated And Seeking Answers After 'Senseless Shooting'

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news