Longtime feud between neighbors ends in acquittal
On trial this week for attempted murder, the Easton man insisted in court — at times profanely — that he acted in self-defense when he stabbed his neighbor repeatedly during a confrontation outside their homes.
Even as the trial concluded Friday, George M. Bloomer’s anger was on display, when he began cursing after the prosecutor’s closing argument, calling authorities “liars” and insisting he couldn’t get a fair shake. But that angst turned to thanks when the jury returned and delivered its verdict after two hours of deliberation. Bloomer was acquitted, found not guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault and possessing instruments of a crime.
“Thank you,” Bloomer, 40, called out as the forewoman announced the decision in Judge Anthony Beltrami’s courtroom.
On March 18, Bloomer stabbed his neighbor of 18 years, Paul Hitzel, six times at Iron and Hoyt streets, the neighborhood where they live separated by an alley. Hitzel suffered a collapsed lung that hospitalized him for about a week and left him struggling to breathe properly for months.
Assistant District Attorney John Obrecht said the two men have a lot of history in which they’ve harassed each other and squabbled over parking — what he called “childish behavior.” Obrecht cast the stabbing as an unprovoked attack by Bloomer, who “hates” Hitzel and wanted to end things then and there.
But Bloomer, who testified in his own defense Thursday, maintained Hitzel was the aggressor. Defense attorney Eleanor Breslin said her client only went for his knife after Hitzel pushed him against a car and began punching him in the head.
This week marked the second time Bloomer faced trial on the charges, after a jury couldn’t reach a verdict in November, leading to a mistrial. The acquittal allows Bloomer to be released from Northampton County Jail, where he has been held for nearly a year.
“The jury, they paid attention, they followed the law and they made the right decision,” Breslin said.
Hitzel said that notwithstanding the verdict, he knows Bloomer is guilty. Hitzel said he fears for his family with Bloomer free from jail.
“My emotions are just shot,” Hitzel, 52, said outside court. “I ain’t going to feel safe around my neighborhood now. He’s going to end up killing us.”
Obrecht declined to comment after the verdict.
On Tuesday, Hitzel testified that before the stabbing, he caught Bloomer spreading bread crumbs near his car. Hitzel said he went to check for damage, and was confronted by Bloomer, who put him in a chokehold and began stabbing him when he tried to walk away.
Breslin accused Hitzel of changing his story throughout his court appearances, and she underscored what she said were inconsistencies in his account.
“The truth is, he attacked Mr. Bloomer, punched him in the side of the head, pinned him against the Jeep and pummeled him and pummeled him,” Breslin told the jury during her closing arguments.
The charges were just the latest of court battles involving the feuding neighbors.
In 2012, a jury acquitted Bloomer of stalking Hitzel’s wife, Patricia, by repeatedly videotaping her and her family as they came and went from their home. And while Bloomer was found guilty of resisting arrest for fleeing police, the Superior Court later threw out that conviction at appeal.
Asked Friday about her client’s use of profanity in court, Breslin said it is no surprise Bloomer is angry.
“He’s outraged that they did this to him again,” Breslin said.
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