SJC upholds 2007 murder conviction stemming from 2005 murders

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today affirmed the conviction of Dennis M. Bateman in connection with the strangulation death of Brandy Waryasz at a Deerfield gas station in April of 2005 when she was 32 weeks pregnant.

After a 12-day trial in May of 2007, a jury convicted Bateman on two counts of murder connected to the strangulation death of Waryasz and subsequent death of her unborn baby.

In an appeal of those convictions, Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Thomas H. Townsend, chief of the appeals unit for the office, argued on behalf of the Commonwealth before the SJC in December of 2022. Arguing on behalf of Bateman was attorney Amy Codagnone.

In arguing to overturn Bateman’s two first-degree murder convictions, Codagnone cited numerous decisions made by Superior Court Judge John A. Agostini claiming the trial was “infected by errors.” Among the issues raised were his denial of a change of venue motion and a confession Bateman made to an inmate, who Codagone argued, was working as an agent for the government.

“We disagree in all respects,” the 60-page SJC decision reads. “Having reviewed the entire record, we discern no basis to set aside or reduce the verdicts of murder in the first degree or to order a new trial.”

ADA Townsend today offered sympathy to the family of Brandy Waryasz and said he is heartened by the SJC’s decision. “We’re pleased they accepted our arguments,” he said. “It was a long road to get to this point, but we made it.” Bateman is serving two consecutive life prison sentences without parole. The full SJC decision can be read here.