Lynn murder trial to begin next month

SALEM – The trial of Fernando Aristy, charged with the beating death of a Peabody father in Lynn last October, is scheduled for next month.In Salem Superior Court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Maureen Wilson-Leal turned over information to the defense regarding promises to a key prosecution witness.Aristy, 25, a former Chelsea resident, is charged with the beating death of Chad R. McDonald Sr., 34, of 4 Cashman Road, Peabody, on Oct. 9, 2010.The trial is scheduled for Jan. 23. It is not yet known where the case will be tried, either at Salem Superior Court or Lawrence Superior Court.That decision will be decided about a week before by Regional Area Justice David A. Lowy.The incident occurred outside a 37 Bennett St., Lynn warehouse, after the pair got into a fight over a parking space.Aristy had been hanging out with friends on Bennett Street that night at REM Auto Body and Paint Shop, drinking and playing dominoes.McDonald, who had been staying at the Jim Appleyard Bonded Storage facility, located at 37 Bennett St., walked over and began to argue with Aristy because he was blocking access to the front entrance of the warehouse. The two had argued about the issue a couple of weeks earlier.McDonald reportedly grabbed a screwdriver and he and Aristy went down to the ground with McDonald ending up on the bottom. Aristy then allegedly grabbed a piece of wood, possibly from a nearby wooden fence that separated the two businesses, and hit McDonald.McDonald was later found inside the warehouse by a friend badly beaten and he died from his injuries 11 days later.The trial had been scheduled in June, but moments before the trial was to commence, defense lawyer Raymond Buso moved to challenge the credibility of the state?s key witness in the case, Wilfredo Mordan, 39.Buso, who has since withdrawn from the case, wanted time to research Mordan?s background.Defense lawyer John P. Morris argued successfully two months ago regarding any information concerning Mordan.Tuesday Wilson-Leal filed the information, saying that Mordan currently is on home confinement and living at 11 Laurel St., #2 in Lynn and that he is monitored electronically.Mordan, who is expected to testify at the trial, allegedly observed the fight and saw Aristy strike McDonald with the board.Mordan was living in the Dominican Republic, but was returned to the United States to testify. He pleaded guilty in June to identity fraud charges in Lynn District Court under the agreement with the state that he testify at Aristy?s trial, and received a suspended sentence with probation.After Mordan, formerly of Revere, testifies he will be returned to the Dominican Republic and be on unsupervised probation.Aristy, who has pleaded innocent, remains held at the Middleton Jail pending the outcome of his trial.