NH News Briefs 1-15-2025

After less than three hours of deliberations, the jury has handed down its verdict in the Victor Rivera murder trial. Yesterday, the panel convicted Rivera of shooting Patricia Swett and Matt Champagne to death in a parking lot outside a Nashua bar in 2023. Rivera’s attorney claimed his client had not intended to shoot the victims but the anger he felt after Swett broke up with him finally boiled over, but prosecutors say Rivera could’ve just left the scene and nothing would’ve happened. Rivera’s sentencing date isn’t set yet.

NH State Police have identified the victim of a fatal crash on Interstate 95 in Portsmouth. Troopers say 62-year-old Martin Osier of Maine was traveling south near Exit 7 Monday night when his vehicle drifted onto the shoulder and hit a concrete barrier, triggering a collision involving two other vehicles. Osier died at a nearby hospital and there were no other serious injuries. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais says he’s in favor of mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl dealers. Ruais testified yesterday in front of the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee. He expressed support for legislation that’d put dealers behind bars for three and a half years if they’re found with five or more grams of fentanyl. Another bill would set a minimum sentence of 10 years if fentanyl is dealt and leads to an overdose death. Opponents say these measures would put too many drug users in jail.