Judge rules against state in Marblehead man’s murder trial

SALEM – A Superior Court judge has ruled that the commonwealth can not hire an expert psychiatrist to testify at the upcoming trial of Peter S. Ronchi, the Marblehead man charged with fatally stabbing his pregnant girlfriend in 2009.Judge Timothy Q. Feeley agreed with defense lawyer David Nathanson that the commonwealth should not be allowed to hire Dr. Martin Kelly of Boston in the double murder trial of Ronchi.Nathanson earlier objected to the commonwealth move, saying there was a conflict with him in that Kelly is also an expert witness in a case he is handling and that he may have discussed the Ronchi case with him.Assistant District Attorney Jean M. Curran had argued that she should be able to hire whoever she wants.The trial had been scheduled for Jan. 30, but now it is scheduled at that time for the commonwealth to disclose who they intend to now hire as their expert.This of course, will delay the trial, because once the commonwealth hires an expert, Ronchi will have to be examined for a mental evaluation by their own expert to be able to testify at trial for the state as to his evaluation of Ronchi.Nathanson has said he intends to use a mental-health defense at trial.Ronchi, 48, formerly of 10 Taft St., Marblehead, is charged with two counts of murder in the first-degree in connection with the May 16, 2009 stabbing death of his 42-year-old girlfriend, Yuliya Galperina, and her unborn son.She was stabbed more than 15 times inside her apartment at 12 Pope St., Unit 512B at the Salem Heights apartment complex in Salem.Her body was discovered that morning by her two older children when they awoke.Ronchi has pleaded innocent to the charges and remains held without bail at the Middleton Jail pending the outcome of his case.