Lynn man pleads guilty to murder, gets life

BOSTON – A Lynn man charged with murder in 2008 pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court Monday and was sentenced to life imprisonment.Edward Holloman, 21, stabbed 24-year-old Curtis Ashford of Roxbury to death on May 31, 2008 following a late-night altercation on East 8th Street in South Boston. He was arrested for first-degree murder shortly thereafter and has been behind bars ever since awaiting trial.Holloman pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, making him eligible for parole after 15 years.Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Mark Hallal has accused Edward Mendez of Jamaica Plan with supplying Holloman with the murder weapon. As a result, Mendez has been charged with murder under the state’s joint venture law.A third suspect, Darren Hemingway of Brighton, was also indicted in the case as an accessory after the fact.Hemingway stands accused of driving Holloman and Mendez away from the crime scene and hiding them.Ashford died from several stab wounds to the chest and stomach. Police said during the fight, Mendez gave Holloman a weapon and told him to stab Ashford. The trio of suspects were arraigned during summer 2008 and were awaiting trial.Records on file at Lynn District Court indicate Holloman was living at 15 Langdon St. in Lynn when he was arrested on Aug. 22, 2007 for possession of drugs in a school zone with intent to distribute and two motor vehicle violations.Holloman was represented in court by defense lawyer Peter Muse.