Judge allows teen murder suspect to attend church services

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Should a murder case involving a Burlington 14-year-old be handled behind closed doors? Defense attorneys for Hussein Mohamed plan to ask a judge to move the proceedings to family court. In the meantime, they were looking to expand his conditions of release.

Hussein Mohamed’s lawyers Monday appeared virtually in front of Vermont Superior Court Judge David Fenster. Mohamed, 14, is being charged as an adult in the shooting death of Madden Gouveia, 14, of Shelburne, outside of a Bristol home on the evening of October 30. But the defense is filing a motion to transfer the case to family court where, if granted, proceedings are shielded from the public.

Family members of the victim also showed up at Monday’s hearing, expressing frustration that the state’s Victim Services office did not tell them about the hearing. “Everything about this case weighs on me. Being left out is big with me. I feel like the communication is so bad,” said Jessica Gouveia, Madden’s mother.

The case has also raised big questions about where youth charged with violent crimes should be housed. Vermont currently does not have a secure facility since the closure of Woodside nearly four years ago. In the meantime, Mohamed is not attending school and is living at home with his family, across the street from Gouveia’s family. “It’s not letting me lessen my pain. I keep feeling like I’m pushing and nothing’s happening,” Gouveia said.

Judge Fenster on Monday approved new conditions of release that will allow Mohamed to attend religious services. Gouveia’s family is petitioning for the state to create a permanent secure facility.

“That’s really what my concern is right now, is to have that for Madden, justice for Madden. It’s not like I want him to go to jail forever. He’s a child, I know tha, but he needs to take responsibility,” Gouveia said.

Monday also marked the first public appearance of Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos since she was arrested after refusing to take a field sobriety test after troopers suspected her of drunk driving. Vekos, who declined to comment on her case, is set to appear in court on those charges on February 12.