Trial continues for Northfield triple murder suspect
65-year-old Thomas Bonfanti was charged with murder in the shooting deaths of three people in Washington County.
BELFAST, Maine (WABI) - The trial for a Northfield man charged with shooting and killing three people and injuring another more than two years ago in Washington County continues in Belfast on Tuesday.
65-year-old Thomas Bonfanti was arrested on February 3, 2020.
Bonfanti was charged with shooting and killing 57-year-old Shawn Currey, 49-year-old Jennifer Bryant Flynn, and 33-year-old Samuel Powers.
All three were found dead in homes in Machias and Jonesboro the morning of February 3, 2020.
Bonfanti is also charged with elevated aggravated assault in the shooting of Regina Long.
Long was shot in the face and in the shoulder, but survived her injuries.
After the shootings Bonfanti was found at the American Legion Hall just a few miles from the crime scenes.
Last Thursday, TV5 heard from several witnesses who were in the American Legion Hall the morning of the shootings. They said they saw Bonfanti come in appearing “very pale and shaken.”
One man testified that Bonfanti put down $789 in cash on the bar saying quote, “this is my cremation money. I just shot several people. They finally made me snap.”
Another witness testified that Bonfanti was waiting for the cops to quote “come and arrest him.”
Officers testified that Bonfanti was later taken into custody at the American Legion Hall without incident.
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On Wednesday, Bonfanti represented himself during opening statements telling the jury, “I can tell the story better.”
The media was not allowed to use any audio from Wednesday’s opening statements.
Speaking softly but looking directly at the jury Wednesday morning, Bonfanti never addressed what occurred on the day of the killings, only asking the jury to, “bare with the evidence. The State wasn’t there, I was.”
The State painted a picture for the jury of the brutal killings of the three victims saying Bonfanti set out with a plan and had a mission to kill.
TV5 spoke with Bonfanti’s attorney Wednesday evening who said he has done a lot of trials but never had a client do his own opening, which he says was unique.
”When we first met he told me he wanted to actively participate in his defense. We discussed what he could do, what I could do but opening is one thing he always said he was contemplating doing. He doesn’t deny it. He did this. He just wants to explain what happened,” said Bonfanti’s attorney, Jeffrey Toothaker.
The last witness to wrap up on Wednesday was Long.
Long testified she and Currey let Bonfanti into their home that day.
They were in the kitchen having coffee when Bonfanti pulled out a gun and held it up to her face where she was shot.
She also suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder. She said she was able to dial 911.
Due to the extent of her injuries, she was sent to a Portland hospital where she says she spent two weeks in a coma.
As a result of her injuries she told the jury she cannot work, drive, and she says she’s afraid to be alone.
She testified she’s in unbearable pain saying that she can still feel like she’s picking out bullet fragments from her face and neck.
The State should wrap up their witnesses sometime this week.
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