Medical examiner calls police-involved death of man at checkpoint a homicide

[Bluebear]

NORTH ANDOVER — The newly updated death certificate for Kenneth Howe says his cause of death was "blunt impact of head and torso with compression of chest," and that the injury occurred because he "struggled with police."

The document, which was released today by the Essex County District Attorney's office at The Eagle-Tribune's request, also says the "manner of death" was a "homicide," and it lists "atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease" as "other contributory conditions."

"The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner uses the term homicide to mean a death at the hands of another. A determination that a death is a homicide in a particular case is not tantamount to a determination that a murder occurred in that case. A medical examiner typically does not offer an opinion regarding criminal wrongdoing or civil liability," Jacqueline Faherty, general counsel for the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said in a statement.

Howe, 45, of Worcester died after being arrested at a state police road block on Thanksgiving Eve on Route 114.

http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_022132859.html