By Julie Manganis
Staff writer
—
SALEM — A man who nearly died last year after being stabbed seven times by his former girlfriend's son said yesterday that Michael Marino had turned his life upside down.
"Just knowing that a man tried to murder me is the most horrifying thing in my life," Paul Goodwin told a Salem Superior Court judge who was about to sentence Marino for the attempted murder.
"This man was waiting for me in the bushes, and the first thing he did was slice my throat. Then he opened up my belly like a fish."
Marino, 28, of Salem, was sentenced by Judge David Lowy yesterday to six years in prison for the April 1, 2010, stabbing of Goodwin, 41. Marino will also be on probation for nine years, while he is in prison and for three years after his release.
Prosecutor James Gubitose had sought a seven- to-10-year prison term.
The victim wanted the maximum — 20 years for attempted murder and another 15 for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, the second charge Marino admitted to yesterday.
Gubitose called it a "brutal attack" that occurred after Marino's mother, Christine Brault, contacted Goodwin about a dog they had owned together while dating.
Despite having obtained a restraining order against Brault, Goodwin went to First Street, where Brault had been kicked out of her mother's house. As they talked outside, she got a phone call from her son. Moments later, Goodwin told police, he felt someone strike him from behind.
Goodwin turned and punched the man, who turned out to be Marino, Gubitose said. The two then engaged in a struggle, as Marino stabbed Goodwin a total of seven times, puncturing his neck, lung, liver and diaphragm.
Marino yelled at Goodwin, "I'm going to kill you," the prosecutor said.
Goodwin collapsed. By the time EMTs arrived, Goodwin was not breathing. He was resuscitated, but spent months recovering.
Goodwin remains convinced that he had been lured there.
Marino's lawyer, Ray Buso, disputed that, saying the incident was the culmination of years of a complicated and tangled relationship between Brault, Goodwin, Goodwin's sister and Marino.
Marino grew up in what Buso called "a pretty normal, wholesome family environment," until his teen years, when his mother, Brault, left the family and began a relationship with one of Goodwin's sisters.
Marino struggled after that, descending into drug and alcohol abuse, which, along with undiagnosed mental health issues, led him into trouble with the law, Buso said.
Then, Marino's mother ended her relationship with Goodwin's sister and took up with Goodwin, a tumultuous relationship, during which she leaned heavily on her son for emotional support, Buso said.
When Marino saw Goodwin with his mother again outside his grandmother's apartment, "he did not know what type of situation he was about to encounter."
Marino, who was under the influence of a mix of the anti-anxiety medication Klonopin and alcohol, grabbed a knife.
Buso said yesterday that Marino still denies landing the first blow, but said Marino admits that even if he acted in self-defense, it went too far.
"He's extremely sorry this happened," said Buso, who had hoped for a shorter prison term of no more than five years.
Lowy ordered Marino to take part in mental health and substance abuse treatment, as well as an anger management program, while he is on probation. He will also be subject to random drug and alcohol tests.
Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or at jmanganis@salemnews.com.
