Trial begins in murder of 54-year-old Fall River convenience store owner Lal Mahaseth

After two days of jury selection, the murder trial of Nelson Coelho began Wednesday morning in Fall River Superior Court.

Coelho is charged with killing convenience store owner Lal Kishor Mahaseth, 54, in an attempted robbery in October of 2021, just one day after Coelho allegedly robbed another convenience store on Durfee Street, just blocks away from Mahaseth’s Stop N Save located on Rock Street.

Superior Court Judge Rafi Yessayan oversaw today’s proceedings, with fifteen jurors attentively listening to opening statements from both the Commonwealth and the defense. Coelho, 39, was seated in the courtroom in a suit and tie.

The three children of the victim were present in the courtroom along with several other friends and family members. Also in the courtroom was a female who identified herself as someone who knew the defendant and was there to support him.

Assistant District Attorney Dennis Collins and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll represented the Commonwealth and District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn was also present, sitting in the gallery for opening statements. Director of Communications for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office Gregg Miliote was present for all of today’s events as well.

Shortly after opening statements from both the Commonwealth and the defense, surveillance videos from the store were entered into evidence and played for the courtroom. Multiple cameras on site provided investigators with several angles of the events leading up to the shooting of Mahaseth, including who prosecutors believe is the defendant walking outside the store, brandishing a gun and walking behind the counter where Mahaseth was standing.

The silent videos eventually depicted the victim attempting to fight back against the robber, throwing a chair over the counter. Shortly after, the Commonwealth alleges that it was Coelho, dressed in all black with his face mostly covered, shooting one time at Mahaseth, hitting him in his chest and killing him.

Judge Yessayan warned the jurors that the video was graphic and the victim advocate assigned to the family of Mahaseth walked the family outside the courtroom. They were not present while the videos were being played.

Coelho himself, watched the videos from his seat next to his defense team. At one point, Coelho closed his eyes.

Fall River Reporter was in the courtroom during most of today’s testimony and shared observations from their X (formerly Twitter) account. You can read the thread here:

Testimony continues Thursday in Fall River Superior Court with the hearing expected to last for about two weeks. Weather permitting, jurors will be transported by bus to the location of the murder this coming Friday.