Stoneham Man Charged With Setting His Girlfriend on Fire

A Stoneham man was arraigned Monday in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on charges alleging that he set his girlfriend on fire this summer, according to a press statement issued by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone's Office Tuesday.
 
Edouard Pierre-Charles, 28, of Stoneham, is facing charges of mayhem, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with the intent to murder and resisting arrest. 

During the arraignment, Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered Pierre-Charles held without bail until Sept. 28, when the defendant is scheduled to reappear in court for a dangerousness hearing.

“This defendant is alleged to have poured a flammable substance over the victim and intentionally set her on fire, in a very disturbing and troubling case of domestic violence” Leone said in the statement. “We commend the Marlborough Police Department for their swift response and apprehension and arrest of this defendant.  We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who attempt to exert power and control over others, resulting in life-threatening situations.”

According to authorities, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on June 18, Marlborough police responded to Liberty Street for reports of a woman on fire. Upon arrival, officers observed the female victim in the street wrapped in a blanket, screaming, the press statement reads. The victim was still burning in places on her body when police arrived. 

She was taken to UMass Worcester Hospital where she was treated for her burns. The victim suffered second-and-third-degree burns to her back, forearms, and hands and she suffered scarring as a result of the incident.

A relative of the victim informed police that she saw the defendant pour nail polish remover over the victim and set her on fire with a lighter inside the victim’s home, according to the statement. Both the victim and her relative ran outside the home after the fire was allegedly set to the victim.

At approximately 12 p.m. on June 19, Marlborough police responded to a residence in Marlborough where they learned the defendant was hiding, the statement reads. He was later arrested and taken into custody following a brief struggle with officers.

Pierre-Charles was arraigned in Marlborough District Court on June 20 where Judge Sarah Singer ordered him held without bail, and he was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury on September 15, the press statement reads.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
 
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Darina Belot. The victim witness advocate is Kristin Dagnelli.