Mass. man convicted of manslaughter for stabbing woman who took in his wife, children

Man guilty of stabbing woman who took in family

SALEM, Mass. — A Massachusetts man charged with murder for stabbing to death a woman sheltering his girlfriend and their four children has been convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Rodlyn Petitbois (PET’-ee-bwah), of Lynn, Mass., was convicted by a Salem Superior Court jury on Tuesday after 3 1/2 hours of deliberations. Sentencing was scheduled for May 17.

Prosecutors say Petitbois stabbed 33-year-old Greenland Etienne in July 2008 during an argument. Authorities say he had gone to Etienne’s home because his girlfriend and their four children had moved in with her. The girlfriend alleged that Petitbois beat her.

Petitbois testified that Etienne got in the way during a knife fight with another man.

Petitbois’ lawyer tells The Daily Item of Lynn that he respects the jury’s decision.

Information from: The Daily Item, www.itemlive.com