Something We Can Take Away from the Kansas City Chiefs Tragedy

After leading his team to an improbable victory, quarterback Brady Quinn used his postgame presser to encourage people to examine their own relationships. It’s a message that should resonate well beyond Kansas City.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher's killing the mother of his child and later himself this past Saturday morning had little, if anything, to do with Lexington. But the after effects of this tragedy could hit close to home. Maybe it'll turn out that concussions or traumatic brain injuries played some role in sparking those unconscionable actions. And maybe that will make a parent prioritize player safety should he or she allow a child to play football. Maybe the image of a hulking 25-year-old linebacker, a man considered a leader by his teammates, holding a gun to his head outside Kansas City's practice facility will incite a conversation about gun control among a new demographic. And maybe that conversation will include young …

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)

PatchCast

PatchCast: Ex-Boyfriend of Lauren Astley Charged With Her Murder

The body of Astley, 18, was found Monday morning in Wayland.

For up-to-the-minute coverage on Lauren Astley's death and the criminal investigation of it, please visit wayland.patch.com.

• Videos (1)

PatchCast

PatchCast: Feds Nab Former Cop, Murders Spike in Boston and Stolen Shih-Tzu Returned

A round-up of stories from around the region.

For more on today's stories, please visit:

• Videos (1)

Trial of Man Accused Of Murdering Waltham Woman Delayed

Trial to start this summer.

The trial of a Taunton man for the murder of a Waltham woman has been delayed until this summer.  The trial of Souleymane Yacouba-Issa on one count of first-degree murder will start July 27 at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, according to Middlesex District Attorney’s Office spokesman Cara O’Brien. A mistrial on the murder charge was declared in November, she said. The new trial had been scheduled to start in February, but was delayed after Issac Borenstein, Yacouba-Issa’s attorney, filed a motion to continue to the case, O’Brien said. A jury in November convicted Yacouba-Issa of one count of stalking Maryse Antoine, 46, of Waltham, according to O’Brien. He was sentenced to between three and four years in a state prison, she said. …

• Photos (1)

Trio Accused of Murdering Waltham Man Back in Court

Case continued until late March.

A Newton man accused of murdering a Waltham man will be back in Middlesex Superior Court Monday, March 28 with one of his co-defendants.  Shaquan Jacobs, 18, of Newton, and Daniel Louis, 21, of Roxbury, appeared in court today for a discovery motions hearing in connection with the alleged Thursday, Sept. 30 murder of Adam Coveney, 29, in Waltham. The third co-defendant, Benjamin Peirce, of Newton, was not present for the court proceedings.  The trio previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery (two counts) and attempted armed robbery. All three men are set to stand trial Nov. 14, 2011, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office. The discovery …