WESTBOROUGH, Mass.

Man accused of killing wife said to have eaten her flesh

A 79-year-old man accused of killing his wife ate some of her flesh and was found sitting in a rocking chair in their Shrewsbury apartment, covered in blood, a prosecutor said Friday.

Jieming Liu was charged at his arraignment Friday with the murder of Yuee Zhou, 73.

Liu appeared disoriented and was wearing a white jumpsuit with no shoes during the appearance in Westborough District Court in Westborough, just east of Shrewsbury. He was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.

His attorney, Michael Hussey, later described him as “befuddled” and in “pathetic” mental and physical condition.

In court, Worcester County prosecutor Michael McHugh said the couple’s son called police to his parents’ apartment Thursday night. Police found Liu in a rocking chair with blood on his mouth, hands and face. His wife’s blood-soaked body was found on a bedroom floor, with flesh missing from her left forearm. Some of her fingers were detached from her hand, McHugh said.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early told reporters, “It was a very gruesome scene.”

Liu told Shrewsbury police that he acted in self-defense.

The couple’s son told police his parents arrived from China in November. He said his mother was recently worried about the health of his father, who he thought may have Alzheimer’s disease.

NEW HAVEN, Conn.

Three off-duty cops arrested after two discharge guns

Three police officers were arrested on charges of interfering with a police officer, and two of them were charged with unlawfully discharging their guns.

The arrests followed an investigation into a claim that one or more off-duty officers illegally fired guns early Sunday outside a bar. No injuries were reported.

Police said Friday that Officers Lawrence Burns and Charles Kim were charged with interfering with a police officer, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment, while Officer Krzystof Ruszczyk was charged with interfering with a police officer. They were placed on administrative leave and were ordered to surrender their weapons.

The interfering charge was because the officers left the scene after they were told by a responding officer to remain, police spokesman Officer David Hartman said. The officers were not firing their guns at anyone, he said.

Police say they voluntarily surrendered and are due in court April 20 for arraignment.

WEBSTER, Mass.

Town says kids at 14 can get tattoos with parental OK

A Massachusetts town has made it legal for children as young as 14 to get tattoos.

The Webster Board of Health this week voted to allow children ages 14 to 17 to get tattoos from licensed artists if they have written consent from a parent or guardian who also accompanies them to the tattoo parlor.

Board member Nancie Zecco tells The Telegram & Gazette the goal is to prevent teens from going to unlicensed artists, which can spread HIV, hepatitis and infections.

The owner of one of the two tattoo parlors in the town of about 17,000 says even though it’s legal, he has no intention of inking “kids.” He says a tattoo is a lifelong decision a child isn’t prepared to make and compared it to handing a 16-year-old a cigarette.

LOWELL, Mass.

Nightclub loses liquor license, faces restrictions after brawl

The nightclub at the center of a brawl in Lowell two months ago that led to 14 arrests and resulted in injuries to three police officers has lost its liquor license for three months.

The city License Commission on Thursday also rolled back the closing time at Club 44 inside Fortunato’s Restaurant from 2 a.m. to 11 p.m. for an indefinite period and barred the club from having a disc jockey.

Police say chairs, tables and beer bottles were thrown during the brawl just before closing time on Feb. 10. Thirty officers, including every Lowell officer on duty as well as officers from Dracut, Tyngsborough, UMass-Lowell and state police, responded.

A lawyer for owner Yousef Ayyab tells The Sun his client is “ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated” by what happened.

HILL, N.H.

Dry wind whips up several brush fires across the state

Dry, windy weather has fueled at least several brush fires across New Hampshire.

One of the largest was in Hill, which started on Wednesday and ended up burning 86 acres in rugged, steep terrain. No injuries were reported.

In Conway, the fire chief told WMWV radio that a resident will likely be cited and charged after an illegal outdoor fire spread to more than an acre Friday. Firefighters were able to control the fire and eventually put it out.

New Hampshire was under a red flag warning through 7 p.m. Thursday, meaning dry, windy weather heightened the risk of fires spreading.

The National Weather Service said that weather conditions are still very close to meeting criteria for a fire warning. There was an elevated risk for fires through 6 p.m.

ORLEANS, Mass.

Warm winter, early spring bring plovers back to Cape

Protected piping plovers have made an early return to Cape Cod’s beaches this year.

Experts say a combination of a warm winter and early spring has brought piping plovers flocking from their southern wintering grounds three weeks ahead of their usual arrival.

Paul Fulcher, the Orleans parks and beaches superintendent, said it’s too early to say whether that means a productive nesting year for the endangered birds or an early reprieve from beach closures for off-road beach enthusiasts.

He told the Cape Cod Times other factors, including predators and weather, play a part.

Some have already launched into courtship displays, scratching out and defending possible nesting sites.

GILFORD, N.H.

Two rescued from lake after catamaran capsizes

Firefighters helped rescued two men from a capsized catamaran on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee.

Lt. Jeff Madon of Gilford Fire Rescue said the wind-whipped waves Thursday were breaking over the bow of their boat, making at least one firefighter seasick from the pounding.

The Citizen reported that the unidentified men declined medical treatment. They were planning to attempt to right the overturned craft and then tow it to shore with a powerboat.

JAY, Vt.

Ski resort expansion plans include new hotels, ski lifts

A Vermont ski resort’s expansion plans include two new hotels, five additional ski lifts and 145 more acres of skiing and riding.

Jay Peak Resort’s plans also include 13 single family homes and 700 additional townhouse and condominium units.

The Caledonian Record reported that a local environmental commission has scheduled a site visit and hearing next week to look the permit request.

Jay Peak estimates the expansion would increase the number of daily skiers from 4,230 to 6,560.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Airport commuter rail ridership up, but short of expectations

More passengers are using the commuter rail line between Providence and Rhode Island’s main airport, transportation officials reported Friday, but not as many as was hoped when the trains started rolling in late 2010.

An average of 149 people took the train from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick on weekdays from January to March 2012. An average of 177 people took the train to T.F. Green daily. The ridership numbers come from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which operates the rail service under a deal with the state.

Though that’s twice as many passengers as a year ago, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian said officials wanted to see more passengers taking the train by now.

“Obviously, it’s a slower start than we’d hoped for but we have all the pieces in place to make it work,” he said. “The key is to make it as convenient as possible or people won’t use it.”

Bryan Lucier, a spokesman at the state Department of Transportation, notes passenger rail service south of Providence is still in its early stages. Lucier said that so far, ridership at T.F. Green “has exceeded RIDOT’s expectations.”

The state is poised to extend commuter service farther south to the new Wickford Junction in North Kingstown. Service to the station, which includes a four-story parking garage and links to local bus service, is scheduled to begin on April 23.

Officials warn of dangers of cold water when fishing

Rhode Island environmental officials are warning anglers of the dangers of cold water as the freshwater fishing season approaches.

The state Department of Environmental Management said Friday that a boating accident is five times more likely to be fatal if the water is colder than 60 degrees.

A department spokesman said cold water can be fatal even before hypothermia sets in. He recommends people wear a life jacket, saying it will keep them afloat in the water even if they lose consciousness or can’t swim.