Jaffrey Man Accused Of Hatcheting Victim During Litchfield Attack

LITCHFIELD, NH — A man from Jaffrey, accused of attempted murder in Litchfield, waived arraignment in Hillsborough County Superior Court South on Thursday.

Ian Morris, 25, of Skyline Drive in Jaffrey faces attempted murder, kidnapping, and burglary charges as well as two counts each of first-degree and second-degree assault. A hearing was canceled on Thursday due to Morris waiving arraignment.

Police were sent to a home on Evergreen Circle in Litchfield around 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of a home invasion and assault in progress. While heading to the incident, dispatch told police a knife and ax were involved in the attack.

When they arrived, officers saw Morris on the floor of a bathroom tussling with a man, later identified as one of the homeowners — who was bleeding from several cuts to his head and face, an affidavit said.

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“Ian had his arms around (the man) and was gripping his shirt,” the affidavit stated.

The man’s wife was standing outside of the bathroom with a knife and hatchet in her hands. Officers saw blood in the hallway leading up to the bathroom. Morris was removed from the bathroom and placed into handcuffs while EMTs were requested to assist.

An officer said, during questioning, that Morris told him he did not know the family, according to an affidavit.

The couple told police they were sleeping when Morris entered their bedroom with a hatchet, the report said.

“How do you want to die?” the victim’s wife accused Morris of asking.

Police said the couple both thought it was a prank. They got out of bed and put clothes on while Morris ordered the woman downstairs, the affidavit stated. The man attempted to lure Morris outside but when he refused, “Ian began to strike (the victim) in the head with the blunt end of the hatchet.” The assault continued as the victim attempted to move down the hallway of the home.

At some point during the altercation, police said, Morris “lost possession of the hatch” which the woman picked up. She also managed to get a knife away from him during the altercation, the report stated, which was why she had possession of the weapons when police arrived.

Morris and the man “continued fighting into the bathroom” when police found them, the affidavit stated.

Morris was held on preventive detention and is due in superior court for a dispositional conference is scheduled for April 21.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Litchfield Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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