By Chris Van Buskirk
masslive.com
SHIRLEY, Mass. — A man facing charges stemming from an alleged attack that left an MCI-Shirley correctional officer on life support was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court Thursday morning, where he pled not guilty to what prosecutors described as a “severe” and “brutal” assault.
Roy Booth, 40, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing bodily injury, armed assault with intent to murder, and mayhem in connection to an alleged attack on Matthew Tidman, who took an “unbelievable step” last week when he was taken off life support.
At a court hearing in Woburn, state prosecutors said Booth targeted Tidman because he thought attacking an officer would get him back to a prison facility in Virginia, where he was originally serving a life sentence for first-degree murder before being transferred to the medium-security facility in Massachusetts.
“That is exactly what he did on August 31,” Brant said of Booth’s motive.
Booth attended the hearing in person, where he stood behind a wall in an orange jumpsuit flanked by two court officers. His lawyer stood nearby.
He remained solemn throughout the proceeding and stared down Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brant as Brant described how Booth allegedly made his way into MCI-Shirley’s gym area, walked over to weightlifting equipment, unscrewed a bar, held it next to his hip as he stood against a wall, and then ran behind Tidman to strike him in the head.
“He strikes him severely, brutally and quickly, knocks him to the ground. He then, as he’s down on the ground, he hits him four more times,” Brant said, adding video footage captured the alleged attack. “Officer Tidman, at that point, is in severe trauma. He’s down on the ground. An ambulance is brought to the scene. Within moments he’s airlifted to the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, with severe, severe head injuries.
[RELATED: Matthew Tidman, Mass. CO attacked by prison inmate, is off life support]
When asked how he would like to plea, Booth said, “not guilty.” Court officials ordered Booth held without bail pending a hearing on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Middlesex Superior Court.
Laurel Singer, a lawyer representing Booth, argued against Booth being held without bail, saying he is already serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and has no chance of leaving prison.
“Even if this court were to impose a nominal bail, even if this court were to release Mr. Booth on personal recognizance … he is not going anywhere, he is serving a sentence, he is serving a very lengthy sentence,” Singer said.
Singer declined to comment further as she walked out of the courthouse Thursday morning.
Tidman’s family was present in the courtroom, with many wearing shirts emblazoned with “Tidman Strong” on the back.
Kevin Flanagan of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union said it was a difficult day for everyone who knows Tidman and called the alleged attack one of the most “heinous assaults” he has ever seen.
But Tidman, he said, is slowly recovering.
“Matt, over the last couple of weeks, has made some pretty good headway in the recovery process,” Flanagan said outside the courthouse. “He’s rehabilitating now, he is moving a little bit up and around, walking, and eating. So we’re very happy with the progress that he has made, but it’s a very long road with many surgeries ahead of him.”
Flanagan said weightlifting is temporarily prohibited at the prison, and the union is pushing to bar the activity permanently.
“We work in a different difficult space, a very small confined space with hundreds and thousands of inmates and free weights in the prisons, it doesn’t work,” he said. “We’ve seen it, they shouldn’t have it, they shouldn’t have access to the instruments like that.”
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