N. Andover Man Pleads Guilty In Therapist's Murder, Sentenced 14-15 Years

BRIDGEWATER (CBS) - A 21-year-old North Andover man pleaded guilty on Thursday to manslaughter in the 2008 death of his therapist.

Thomas Belanger, who was 18 at the time, stabbed 53-year-old social worker Diruhi Mattian to death in 2008.

Mattian went to the Belanger home to try to break up a fight between a brother and sister. Belanger, who had been abused by his father since the age of 4, stabbed and killed Mattian. He then slashed his own throat, but survived.

"There's no doubt that she was a good person. There's no doubt that her daughters feel her death deeply and should. We should always feel the tragedy of the death of a good person, and that's what happened in this case," said Jim Krasnew, Belanger's attorney.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports.

The judge, acknowledging Belanger's long history of being abused, sentenced him to 14-15 years at Bridgewater State Hospital.