Biddeford man accused of shooting homeowner six times in 2021 goes on trial

June 11 – A Biddeford man accused of fatally shooting his landlord in September 2021 is set to appear in court later this month after more than two years of waiting.

Jury selection in the trial of Randal Hennessey, accused of killing Douglas Michaud Jr. by shooting him six times on the porch of their apartment, will begin on June 24. During a hearing in York County Superior Court on Tuesday, attorneys argued for more than an hour what details of the crime the jury should hear.

Hennessey pleaded not guilty in December 2021 to charges of intentional and knowing murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

During Tuesday’s hearing, his attorney, George Hess, and Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman debated whether to exclude any evidence about Hennessey’s character, such as the use of terms like “passive-aggressive” to describe the suspect. Ultimately, the judge ruled that the evidence could not be used.

Hennessey shot Michaud five times on the porch of their apartment building, according to court documents. When Michaud’s girlfriend, Jamie Wakefield, tried to help him, Hennessey came back outside, shot Michaud again in the head and fled on a dirt bike along railroad tracks until he surrendered New Hampshire Police.

Wakefield, who was pregnant at the time, told officers multiple times that “Randy,” referring to Hennessey, shot her boyfriend, court records show. Attorneys also debated Tuesday whether to tell the jury that Wakefield was pregnant at the time of the shooting.

Hess said the detail will be used as a “big hammer” to evoke emotional responses from the jury. Ackerman argued it was relevant because Wakefield was taken to the hospital after the shooting to make sure her pregnancy was still healthy. During the ambulance ride and in body camera footage, she told authorities Hennessey was the shooter. The judge agreed with Ackerman.

Friends of Michaud told the Press Herald in 2021 that he had a bright future at Wakefield. He was excited about fatherhood and trained as a firefighter. They said he likes motorcycles and vintage cars and is always helping others.

Wakefield told police after the shooting that Michaud “was in the process of evicting (Hennessey), who is a tenant in the building” and that Hennessey had a confrontation with her when he arrived home before the shooting, according to court records.

Ackerman suggested Hess claims the shooting was in self-defense, even though Michaud was shot in the back. Hess, who did not return a phone message Tuesday asking to discuss the case, gave no indication of his defense strategy in court Tuesday.

It took more than two years for the case to go to trial. In November 2022, Hennessey requested that his court-appointed attorney, Tina Nadeau, be replaced because he felt she was not representing him as well as she should. Nadeau withdrew from the case, and the judge appointed Hess.

Copy the story link