Pittsfield Woman Charged with Husband's Murder

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to one charge of murder related to the stabbing death of her husband, Aurthur Martin.

Charlene Martin was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court before Judge Frederic Rutberg. Her case was continued to March 9 for a pretrial conference.

According to police reports, Martin said she and her husband were watching television when he left the room and re-entered with a knife. She allegedly told police that they were joking around when she pushed his arm away and he was struck by the knife.

Her explanation was reportedly inconsistent with the findings of the medical examiner, according to The Berkshire Eagle. Police said the couple had a history of domestic incidents and that Martin has been the "agressor." The knife was found in a closet.

Martin is being held without bail in the Berkshire County House of Correction.

Posted Feb. 8, 2009

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that stabbing victim Arthur Martin bled to death.

Martin, 49, died early Saturday morning at Berkshire Medical Center. His wife, Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, is facing a murder charge in her husband's slaying.

Dr. Andrew Sexton, an associate medical examiner, conducted the autopsy on Arthur Martin on Sunday in Holyoke. The autopsy revealed that Martin bled to death as a result of a stab wound to his thigh, which cut the femoral artery. 


Posted Feb. 7, 2009

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield woman has been charged with murder in connection with the apparent stabbing death of her husband last night.
 
Charlene Grandson Martin, 45, is being held in the Pittsfield Police lockup on $1 million bail pending arraignment Monday morning in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield. She is facing one count of murder in the apparent stabbing death of her 49-year-old husband, Arthur Martin.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless, in a statement released this morning, said the Pittsfield Police Department received a 911 call about 11:20 Friday evening reporting a stabbing at 341 West St., Building 40. 

Police, fire and emergency medical technicians responded to the call.
 
Arthur Martin, a resident of that address, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, suffering from an apparent stab wound. He was pronounced dead early Saturday morning. An autopsy will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke within the next several days.
 
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department with assistance from the state police Crime Scene Services Section. Detectives Thomas Bowler and John Gray are the lead investigators on the case. 

Anyone who has any information pertaining to this incident is asked to call the Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9700.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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