http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-99/11-24-99/c01lo063.htm

City man fatally stabs himself, DA says

By Melinda Leader, Standard-Times staff writer

NEW BEDFORD -- A 30-year-old Rockdale Avenue man died after stabbing himself in the heart with a common knife, according to a report released by the district attorney's office yesterday.

While it remains unclear whether Charles London intentionally or accidentally stabbed himself, District Attorney Paul F. Walsh said there is no evidence of foul play.

"It may have been suicide. But, it is also possible he could have stabbed himself in a crazy burst of emotion or frustration," said Mr. Walsh. "We will never get to the bottom of this, but there is no evidence to suggest he was stabbed by anyone else."

Mr. London was in the process of finalizing a bitter divorce with his estranged wife, Kathleen London, and allegedly was distraught over visitation rights with his children, the report said.

"As a consequence of the tension and conflict, Mr. London was oftentimes upset and frustrated in the months immediately prior to his death," wrote Assistant District Attorney Renee Dupuis, in her report.

In fact, Ms. Dupuis wrote, Mr. London had threatened to harm himself several times in the past and had attended counseling to try to resolve these issues.

Neither Mr. London's family members nor his girlfriend, who lived with him, could be reached for comment yesterday.

But suspicion grew around Mr. London's girlfriend, LeAnne Leblanc, after it was learned the two were heard fighting around the time of the incident.

In statements to investigators, Ms. Leblanc admitted the two had an argument when Mr. London came home intoxicated, but insisted he stabbed himself.

"He was angry and hitting himself in the chest with his right hand. When she asked him what he was doing, Mr. London replied that he was stabbing himself," Ms. Dupuis wrote in the report.

Ms. Leblanc allegedly thought Mr. London was being "melodramatic" and ignored his actions until she realized he was having trouble breathing.

Ms. Leblanc then called Mr. London's mother, who came over to find her son lying on the bed bleeding, investigators concluded.

After Wanita London called 911, Mr. London was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where he later died.

An autopsy revealed that Mr. London died of a single stab wound to the heart, but was inconclusive regarding the manner in which the stab wound was inflicted. It was also determined in the autopsy that Mr. London's blood alcohol level was .086.

Despite Ms. Leblanc's statements that Mr. London was hitting himself in the chest, Mr. Walsh said the only sign of trauma to Mr. London was the single stab wound.

"Often in suicide cases there will be signs of the person trying to kill themselves before actually doing it," said Mr. Walsh. "Surprisingly, there was no evidence of any puncture wounds in this case."

Forensic evidence, of which there was little, except several blood drops on the floor, was also inconclusive.

"A search of the apartment revealed nothing of significant evidentiary value," wrote Ms. Dupuis, in her report. "The forensic evidence located at the scene is consistent with Ms. Leblanc's version of events."

With no evidence to substantially discount Ms. Leblanc's story, the district attorney's office has decided not to take any legal action.

"Applying this analysis to the facts of the instant case, the answer is clear," wrote Ms. Dupuis.

"All of the evidence known to us in this case points to the inevitable conclusion that Mr. London's injury was self-inflicted, and that Mr. London either stabbed himself because he intended to kill himself, or stabbed himself because he intended to evoke a reaction from Ms. Leblanc, but accidentally inflicted a mortal wound."

Mr. Walsh admits the case is somewhat bizarre, adding it is rare for somebody to stab himself in the heart.

But Mr. Walsh said Mr. London's family believed all along that this was not a homicide.

"Knowing our investigation confirmed their emotional response will provide the family with some closure."