The state has decided to drop manslaughter charges against three teenagers charged in the July beating death of a Westbrook man.
Last Thursday, Wade DePalma, 19, of Bridge Street; Nicholas Lavigne, 19, of Pierce Street and Alexander Layug, 18, of Massachusetts Avenue, Portland, pled not guilty in Cumberland County Superior Court to charges of aggravated assault in connection with the July 7 fight that led to the death of Douglas Wilcox, 34, of Glenwood Avenue.
The three men were originally charged with manslaughter after a State Police investigation concluded that Wilcox, 34, died as the result of injuries received in the July 3 altercation on Brown Street. Wilcox died as a result of his injuries on July 7.
Calls to the defendant’s three attorneys, James Bushell, who represents Layug; Robert Levine, Lavigne’s attorney, and Howard O’Brien, who represents DePalma, were not returned as of press time.
Assistant Attorney General Fernand LaRochelle said the state had filed a motion to dismiss the manslaughter charges against the three defendants. He declined explain why the state decided to drop the manslaughter charges, saying since the trial was coming up early next month he did not want to discuss the case.
Wilcox’s father, William Wilcox Sr., said he is upset with the decision to reduce the charges against the three defendants. “It’s not right,” he said. “I want 100 percent justice. Look what they did to my boy.”
Even six months after his son’s death, Wilcox, is having a difficult time dealing with it. “It’s been awful,” said a clearly upset Wilcox Sr. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
Family members said Wilcox was a loving father to his twin sons, Doug and Dillan, as well as to his 8-year-old daughter, Jacy. And he was devoted to his longtime girlfriend Ellie Grimaldi, whom he had been with since junior high school and was the mother of his children.
State Police said Wilcox had an argument with DePalma, Lavigne and Layug at Brown and North streets on July 3. Police said the men were previously acquainted, but declined to comment on the nature of the argument that led to the fight.
Later that same day, Wilcox confronted the three men in front of a River Street residence. The fight moved down to Brown Street, in front of the Skybox tavern, where the assault took place. Police said there was no connection between the tavern and the fight.
Police said Wilcox suffered severe head injuries as the result of blunt trauma during the fight.
Wilcox was initially taken to Maine Medical Center on July 3 to be treated for his injuries. At that time, the Westbrook police were investigating the case. Wilcox refused to make a statement to police regarding the fight.
Wilcox stayed in Maine Medical Center for only a short time before signing himself out of the hospital against his doctor’s wishes.
On July 6, Wilcox was discovered unconscious in the shower by family members. He was taken back to Maine Medical Center where he died early the next morning.
After police received the results of an autopsy that showed Wilcox died as the result of his injuries, the state police met with the Attorney General’s Office, and the case came before a Cumberland County grand jury on Aug. 2. The grand jury indicted the three men on Aug. 3, and they were all arrested on Aug. 5.
LaRochelle said DePalma, Lavigne and Layug would be tried together. He said jury selection is scheduled for later this month and the trial is expected to begin on Feb. 6 in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland.
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