Brockton man charged with attack on student with cerebral palsy on MBTA train

By Jacqueline Tempera/Globe Correspondent/April 11, 2014

A Brockton man is facing charges after he allegedly kicked, punched, and verbally abused a college student with cerebral palsy on an MBTA Red Line train, Suffolk County prosecutors said.

Thomas Kennedy, 62, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday to charges of assault and battery on a disabled person, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and violating the victims civil rights, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in a statement.

The 21-year-old student allegedly boarded a crowded Red Line train at the MBTAs Downtown Crossing Station Tuesday afternoon and took a seat next to Kennedy. The victim told police Kennedy smelled of alcohol and immediately started making comments about his disability and calling him ethnic and homophobic slurs, prosecutors said.

The victim moved to another seat at Andrew Station, but Kennedy continued speak to him. Kennedy started to punch and kick the student, prosecutors said.

The student was able to leave the train at the JFK/UMass station and reported the incident to police, prosecutors said.

He was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he described the assailant to MBTA Transit Police detectives. He later identified Kennedy on footage from cameras inside the Downtown Crossing station, prosecutors said.

About 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Transit Police arrested Kennedy at Downtown Crossing Station.

Theres no substitute for good police work, but public safety cameras have helped solve crime after crime that might otherwise have gone unpunished, Conley said in the statement. This appears to be one of those cases, and I hope thats some reassurance to the victim of this senseless, unprovoked, and deeply offensive assault.

South Boston Municipal Court Judge Michael Bolden set bail at $5,000 and ordered Kennedy to remain alcohol-free, submit to an alcohol evaluation, undergo any necessary treatment, and to stay away from the MBTA and the victim.

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Brockton man charged with attack on student with cerebral palsy on MBTA train