HAMPTON — Shot outside her place of employment in Salem, Massachusetts, two days earlier, a 33-year-old Hampton woman wasin a Boston hospital in critical condition Wednesday night.
Her alleged assailant, Richard Lorman, 55, of Wilton, New Hampshire, known to her through a previous relationship, is dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, police said. Authorities in both states are trying to piece together what went wrong.
Shortly after receiving reports Monday, Nov. 15 aboutshots fired on Technology Way at about 5 p.m., Salempolice said, officersarrived to find two victims of gunshot wounds.
Lorman was dead. The woman was alive with gunshot wounds to her head. She was transported via a medical flight to a Boston hospital, police said.
The two knew each other, according to Salem police, information confirmed by law enforcement in Hampton.
Protection order was denied
The woman filed for an order of protection against Lorman and a temporary 30-day restraining order was issued on Sept. 21 in the 10th Circuit Court in Hampton.
In the request, the woman claimed Lorman sexually and physically abused her and that the "sexually violent behavior has continued for years."She wrote about an incident over Labor Day, in which Lorman confronted her over renting a room at her yacht club.
"Richard yelled profanities... He continued screaming, 'I'm going to (expletive) you up. Everything you hold dear, I will (expletive) it up.'"
She claimed that Lorman talked about "previous acts of violence in his past related to criminal organizations" and on Aug. 27 he "reorganized his guns" while angry to intimidate her.
The woman also stated she was concerned Lorman "will resort to violence in this revengeful mindset where he has lost control."
While the temporary order was approved by Judge Polly L. Hall, the same judgedenied a permanent order a month later on Oct. 20.
According to court documents, a hearing was conducted Oct. 20, in which Lorman was not in attendance. The judge dismissed the case citing the woman was not abused as defined in RSA 173-B (Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence).The state, according to the statute, defines abuse as someone who commits one of the following crimes: Assault, criminal threatening, sexual assault, criminal restraint, destruction of property, criminal trespass, harassment or cruelty to animals.
The judge saidbased on the evidence presented, "the court cannot find the Defendant's conduct constitutes a credible present threat to Plaintiff's safety."
No further details were in the court file.
Amanda Grady Sexton, public affairs director for theNew Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, issued a statement saying she is "devastated" the permanent restraining order was denied, stating, "The victim clearly showed in her petition that she was in immediate danger."
Grady Sexton called on the New Hampshire court system “to launch a comprehensive review of all recent restraining orders to ensure that judges are following all the laws and protocols when making these life-altering decisions and to seek advanced training on domestic violence for all judges presiding over these cases.”
"In this case, the victim alleged multiple felonies, and we are stunned and distressed that the court would deny a petition that involved so many serious crimes," said Lyn Schollett, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who nominated Polly Hall as a judge in 2017, released a statement.
“What happened ... is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family," Sununu said."As soon as this was brought to our attention, I immediately contacted the judicial branch and confirmed this matter is being reviewed to the fullest extent possible.”
New Hampshire forming task force
New Hampshire's judicial branch is conducting a review in the case and is forming a task force to review domestic violence cases in the court system.
New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald called for the internal review of the petition denial. It's expected to be completed next week and is being led by Circuit Court Judge Susan Carbon, former director of the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice.
The task force will be led by state Supreme Court Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz and include representatives from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense counsel, and others.
Grady Sexton said 43% of final protective orders are denied in New Hampshire. In some cases, she said, this happens when the victim has suffered serious injuries and investigations are ongoing.
She offered help to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, saying advocates are available to provide support and offer free and confidential services. New Hampshire’s 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline is 1-866-644-3574.
More resources if you need help
As a community service, the following information is published with stories in which domestic and/or sexual violence is alleged, while making no judgment on the guilt or innocence of the accused:
If you need support Haven has trained confidential advocates available. The 24-hour hotline is (603) 994-SAFE (7233). Or to connect to its confidential, online chat service Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., athavennh.org.
Material from the Associated Press is used in this report.
