New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Woman pleads not guilty to assault charge
Count filed in connection with fatal incident
NEW HAVEN — A West Haven woman has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree assault in connection with the March death of a city woman, according to judicial records.
Brianna Triplett, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault March 17 in connection with the death of Dwaneia Turner, 28, and the wounding of another woman on Auburn Street. Police have classified Turner’s death as a homicide.
New Haven-based attorney Paul Carty, representing Triplett, confirmed the not guilty plea Thursday and said he and his client were waiting to know more about the state’s case.
He noted that people typically enter a not guilty plea in the initial stages of a criminal case and suggested that people not rush to judgment about the matter.
“We need to see what the evidence is,” said Carty.
Triplett is next scheduled to appear in court April 16.
According to a police report, Officer Matthew Curran allegedly encountered Triplett with a gun in her hand at the homicide scene.
Curran ordered Triplett to put the gun on top of a nearby car, which she did, according to the report. He placed her in handcuffs, then had her sit on the sidewalk, accompanied by Officer Christopher Noble.
She then was escorted to a cruiser, according to the report. She did not say anything to Curran at the scene, he reported.
A bloody knife and shell casings were found near the scene, according to the report.
Capt. Anthony Duff has asked anyone with information about the homicide to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203946-6304.
Duff previously said police believe Triplett was involved in a dispute with Turner and the other woman ahead of the slaying.
Friends and family remembered Turner as a spirited and funny woman late last month, as they held a candlelight vigil in her honor.
Turner is one of nine victims of homicides this year in New Haven.
Alfreda Youmans, Jeffery Dotson, Jorge Osorio-Caballero, Marquis Winfrey, Joseph Mattei, Kevin Jiang, Angel Rodriguez and Alessia Mesquita also were killed in the city this year.