Koutoujian works to get anti-stalking bill passed - 02/10/2010
Koutoujian works to get
anti-stalking bill passed
By: Richard Conn/Daily News Staff
Daily News Tribune
WALTHAM - Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law yesterday a bill that allows victims to obtain restraining orders against stalkers with whom they have no prior relationship.
The bill was crafted by state Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham.
Koutoujian said an impetus for the bill was the case of Sandy Berfield, a waitress from Everett who, in 2000, was repeatedly stalked by a customer and then killed by a small bomb delivered to her home by him.
Koutoujian said that because Berfield wasn't in a relationship with the stalker, nor was she a roommate or relative of that man, she was only able to gain a civil injunction from Superior Court.
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