First Degree Murder Conviction Against Brockton Man Confirmed

BROCKTON, MA — The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) affirmed the first degree murder conviction of a Brockton man Wednesday following a defendant appeal, said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz in a news release.

Joao Teixiera was charged with murdering Keith Leverone, who was 19 at the time, following an altercation at approximately 3:11 a.m. on February 7, 2009 at 662 Belmont St. in Brockton, said Cruz. Police found Leverone with a gunshot wound to the head, determined to be homicide.

An investigation found that Teixeira was seen arming himself with a hand gun immediately before Leverone was shot, said Cruz. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 2013.

Following the conviction, Teixeira filed an appeal to the SJC that focused on jury instructions, mention of prior bad acts, prosecution statements, an ineffective trial counsel, and a claim of new evidence and asked for his first degree murder verdict to be reduced, said Cruz. However, the SJC rejected Teixeira's claims on Wednesday.

"We conclude there was no error, and accordingly affirm the convictions," said the published opinion. "We also discern no reason to use our extraordinary authority to reduce the murder verdict to a lesser degree of guilty or to order a new trial."