Newton Resident Accused of Murder Back in Court

Editor's note: Daniel Louis was previously identified as being a resident of West Roxbury due to his arrest sheet. But according to Louis' lawyer, Stanley Norkunas, Louis actually resides in Roxbury on West Street. 

A Newton man accused of murder was back in the Middlesex Superior Court today with one of his co-defendants - and their case was continued until March 28.

Newton resident Shaquan Jacobs, 18, and Daniel Louis, 21, of Roxbury, appeared in court today for a discovery motions hearing.

The third co-defendant Benjamin Peirce of Newton was not present for the court proceedings. 

The three have pled not guilty to charges of murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery (2 counts) and attempted armed robbery.

The trio have tentative trial dates set for Nov. 14, 2011, said the Middlesex DA's office.

The discovery motion was related to telephone records, as the the defendants' lawyers are arguing that the defendants' cell tower information should be excluded. The defendants' lawyers presented the same argument on Dec. 6, specifically if a new ruling made by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in September can be used to exclude phone records in the case. The ruling said that law enforcement officials can be required to obtain a probable cause search warrant to access information from a cell phone. 

Prosecuting attorneys said they are no longer seeking text messages from the defendants, but have filed a new order requesting cell site authorization and numbers dialed by the defendants. The prosecution would like to use the phone records to show that the defendants contacted each other to arrange the crime, but that the prosecution will not use the content of the messages, just that there were transmissions.

Judge Thomas Billings, who was assigned the case today, said he would need to read the discovery motions before ruling. He continued the case to March 28 for a discovery motion for the four defendants in the case.

Peirce is a senior at  and Jacobs is a graduate of the same school.  It was originally believed that Louis was from West Roxbury, but his lawyer Stanley Norkunas said his client resided in Roxbury before being arrested.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone alleges that Louis, as well as another suspect, jumped out of bushes to ambush a Adam Coveney, 29, of Waltham, beating him and then shooting him on Sept. 30.

Initially, the defendants tried to rob a Newton North student they knew well, but were unable to break into that person's home, the DA's office said. 

After the failed robbery, in which they brought a gun to, alleges the Middlesex DA's office, Peirce then allegedly planned a second robbery by arranging to meet Adam Coveney, 29, of Waltham, to buy drugs.

The DA's office alleges the suspects bought gloves, masks and bleach for the murder about eight hours prior to the murder. Police were called to 879 Lexington St., in Waltham for shots fired around 11 p.m.

Allegedly Jacobs and Louis jumped out from hiding and began to beat the Coveney, and Louis then shot him. Before fleeing the area, Louis allegedly laughed about shooting the victim, and Peirce picked up the drugs the victim had in his possession as the victim lay dying on the ground.

The three defendants then left the scene in a car driven by Wallace Duarte, 17, of Waltham, who has been charged as an accessory after the fact. 

The three defendants are being held without bail.