Insanity Defense Expected By Accused Rapist, Murderer

SALEM, MA -- The attorney for Brian G. Brito, 22, of Manchester, NH, has requested another psychiatric evaluation of his client as he prepares to mount an insanity defense. Britto is accused of murdering a Salem, MA man and raping and robbing a North Andover convenience store clerk in March 2017. Britto was indicted last May on charges first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery while masked, and illegal possession of a gun and illegal possession of ammunition.

According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, attorney Joseph Collins said he plans to file a notice for a lack of criminal responsibility. The filing will allow prosecutors to conduct their own psychiatric evaluation of Brito.

Brito was the subject of a manhunt as his crime spree unfolded across the North Shore and Merrimack Valley. Police and prosecutors allege that on the afternoon of March 27, Brito shot pizza delivery man Mohammedreza Sina Zangiband, 24, of Salem in a suspected case of road rage. Zangiband, who was delivering pizzas for Atha's Famous Roast Beef in Lynn, was shot while sitting in the driver's seat of his car behind a school.

More than three hours after the shooting, prosecutors say Brito stopped at the Richdale Convenience store on Chickering Road in North Andover. Investigators say Brito was armed with a gun and donned a mask and gloves. He forced the female clerk into a back room, raped her, then robbed the register and lottery machine.
As he left, he allegedly told the woman, "Thank you for making this easy. I had to kill someone today that made it hard."

State Police arrested Brito later that night during a motor vehicle stop on Route 1 in Peabody.

For more on this story, see the Salem News. Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Patch file photo.