Teen Gets 12-15 Years in Prison for Murder in Balch Park

A Beverly man has been sentenced to serve 12-15 years in state prison in connection to a murder in a Beverly park in 2011.

Adam Martin, 19, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Salem Superior Court on Monday and Judge Howard Whitehead sentenced him to 12 to 15 years in state prison followed by five years of probation.

The St. Patrick’s Day murder of James “J.P.” Vernazzaro of Beverly on March 17, 2011 occurred when Martin allegedly went with Sajan Christensen, 20, to the park to fight Vernazzaro. Martin struck Vernazzaro with an aluminum bat two times, according to prosecutors.

Essex Assistant District Attorney Kristen Buxton told Whitehead that if the case had proceeded to trial, prosecutors would have gone before a jury to show that Martin was armed with an aluminum bat when he went to Balch Park on Cabot Street to fight Vernazzaro.

Christensen, who has yet to stand trial, was allegedly heard threatening Martin to help him fight Vernazzaro and prosecutors allege that Christensen fatally stabbed Vernazzaro in the heart.

The pair lived at a Beverly group home for at-risk teenagers named Blaine House, which was operated by Supporting and Assisting Independent Living (SAIL). The home has since shut down, according to a 2011 report in the Salem News.

Members of Vernazzaro’s family, who was two days away from turning 27 when he was murdered, gave victim impact statements to the court on Monday.

Beverly Police Detective Jeff Liacos and Massachusetts State Police Trooper Robert LaBarge led the investigation and Vernazzaro’s family was provided victim services from Essex Victim Witness Advocate Deborah Dunn.

Attorney Jeffrey Karp represented Martin.