Bristol County man facing upgraded charge of Murder in death of his brother

The 51-year-old Attleboro man accusing of stabbing his brother to death during the early morning hours of Memorial Day is now facing an upgraded charge of Murder.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, this afternoon his office officially filed the new charge with the Attleboro District Court.  The defendant, James McCormick, will be arraigned on the Murder charge Friday morning.

Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office, Attleboro Police and Homicide Unit prosecutors continue to actively investigate the homicide.

Police were called to the area between 5 and 6 Melissa Drive around 3:25 am on Monday for a reported disturbance in progress.  When police arrived, they located the victim outside of 5 Melissa Drive suffering from multiple stab wounds.  The victim, Richard McCormick, 47, of North Attleboro, was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 4:06 a.m.

James McCormick’s lawyer claimed at Tuesday’s arraignment that the act was in self-defense.

Richard McCormick reportedly sustained 8-10 stab wounds and was found in a pool of blood in the yard after an argument.