BROCKTON, MASS. (WHDH) - An 18-year-old man appeared in court Wednesday on charges he stabbed his mother to death in Brockton.
Frantz Polynice was charged with homicide and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Brockton District Court.
Inside the courtroom, the suspect briefly became uncooperative, forcing court officers to intervene. Polynice eventually pleaded not guilty while hiding behind the partition.
The suspect is being held without bail.
The stabbing happened at 34 Merritt Ave. in Brockton, where neighbors said the family had moved to from Haiti a few years ago. Neighbor Maryanne Monteiro said Polynice’s grandmother ran out of the house screaming for her to call 911.
“I knew it was something bad because she was wailing and screaming and she did say ‘911, 911,’” said Monteiro. The grandmother pulled Monteiro towards the house and Monteiro said she managed to get her back outside when she saw Polynice lunge towards them with a knife.
Firefighters first arrived to the home, holding down Polynice until police arrived.
The District Attorney said a knife was recovered from the scene and officials are not yet clear of any motive.
Polynice graduated from Brockton High School earlier this year, where he played football. He had no criminal record prior to the murder charge.
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