Attempted purse snatching suspect to remain held without bail

LYNN – District Court Judge Albert Conlon granted an order Tuesday to continue holding without bail a Winthrop woman charged with trying to steal another woman?s purse during a May 2 videotaped incident in Lynn.Dina Martorano, 41, whose last known address is 15 Seymour St. in Winthrop, appeared in court Tuesday wearing white sweatpants and a gray tank top, her eyes red and bloodshot. She was initially allowed to sit with her lawyer to view the video footage of the crime, but was sent back to the prisoner?s dock after she attempted to speak with a family member in the gallery. She is charged with attempting to commit a crime – unarmed robbery and assault in connection with the incident.Police said Martorano approached a 57-year-old female from behind in the parking lot of Lynnway Liquors, located at 702 Lynnway, and attempted to rip her purse away from her. Martorano then allegedly struggled with the victim and threw her to the ground, but the victim was able to kick the suspect off of her, police said.The incident occurred on May 2, but Martorano turned herself in to Lynn Police on June 28 after detectives released security camera footage of the attempted robbery to the media, which led to numerous anonymous tips identifying Martorano as the culprit.During the dangerousness hearing, Assistant District Attorney Susan Dolhun submitted police reports pertaining to the incident as probable cause to hold Martorano, and noted the suspect?s lengthy criminal history, including past larceny, assault and drug-related charges. She said Martorano had been issued a warrant out of Suffolk County for violating her probation on Friday. Court records indicate she was on probation on a charge of larceny over $250 after she stole three cell phones from a Stoneham T-Mobile store.Martorano watched the one-minute video depicting the attempted purse-snatching and subsequent assault on a laptop provided by prosecutors. She then watched it again at the judge?s bench, appearing stoic and glancing once at her attorney, Matthew Hemond of Salem.Hemond offered no rebuttal to Dolhun?s charges during the hearing, saying only that Martorano willingly stipulated to dangerousness, and reminding the judge that Martorano did willingly turn herself in on the charges.Martorano is being held at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution n Framingham, and is due back in District Court Aug. 1 for a pre-trial hearing before Judge James Wexler.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].