Copyright MassLive
A Massachusetts man who killed his girlfriend while her two children were home was denied parole last month. William Brown, of Fitchburg, repeatedly stabbed 25-year-old Sarin Chan inside their apartment as her two children hid in a bedroom in July 2010. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Hodgens said police received a 911 call in the morning from a man requesting an ambulance. Firefighters had to force the apartment door open. Read more: Mass. woman who killed her mother over ‘satanic curses’ denied parole in narrow decision Chan was found dead on the living room floor. A knife covered in blood was nearby. Brown was located in a bathroom tub. He had apparent self-inflicted knife wounds on his wrist, neck and abdomen. “Responders also found two young children behind a closed bedroom door,” Hodgens said. “They were not physically harmed.” Defense attorney James G. Reardon Jr. said his client did not want to put the children through a trial. Brown is the father of one of Chan’s children. “This was a terrible psychotic break and a terrible domestic violence case,” Reardon said. Read more: Once condemned to die in prison, dozens of inmates are being freed. Second chance — or nightmare? Brown, who was 29 during the incident, was originally charged with murder, but the prosecution and defense came to an agreement that allowed him to plead guilty to second-degree murder in 2015. Doctors found Brown had a history of mental illness including auditory hallucinations, suicide attempts and depressive disorders. Still, a doctor concluded however that Brown could understand the wrongfulness of what he did. During his sentencing, Brown only spoke when he briefly addressed a series of questions asked by Judge James Lemire. He didn’t address Chan’s family, who sat in the courtroom. “They are forever changed because of what you did,” said Pamela Landine, who adopted Chan’s son and daughter. “They are petrified of knives and are afraid when people use them. Their lives are forever changed because they don’t have their mother. They miss her every day.” Brown, now 43, first went in front of the parole board on May 20. Brown talked about his history of mental health issues and how he has completed programming related to violence reduction. However, the Massachusetts Parole Board feels he has more work to do. The board suggested coming up with a comprehensive re-entry plan “which can address how his needs can best be supported in the community.” He would benefit from programming related to domestic violence, the board wrote in its decision. Read more: ‘The devil can’t be disguised’: Family members confront Springfield murderer, rapist Chan’s sister and daughter, as well as Worcester County Assistant District Attorney Jesse-Paul Crane, spoke against Brown getting parole. On Oct. 23, the Massachusetts Parole board denied Brown parole. He will go in front of the board again in two years.
