A man accused of causing the death of his roommate during an argument over Thanksgiving food is being held pending a dangerousness hearing after pleading not guilty in Plymouth District Court on Friday.
Richard Lombardi, 65, was charged with manslaughter and assault and battery on an elderly person in connection to the death of 80-year-old Frank Griswold in the home they shared on Main Street, according to the Plymouth District Attorney's Office.
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According to police, Lombardi shoved Griswold to the floor on Wednesday when he wouldn't stay away from the food as the Thanksgiving meal was being prepared. The prosecutor Griswold died of blunt force trauma to neck and head.
"(Lombardi) Grabbed his back and threw Mr. Griswold to the right tossing him to the side. The defendant did surmise that Mr Griswold’s feet got tangled up and that he fell and hit his head on the floor," Plymouth County prosecutor Joseph Presley said.
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Lombardi called 911. First responders found Griswold bleeding from the head and lying unresponsive on the floor.
According to court documents, Lombardi and Griswold, were longtime roommates, living together since 2001 and renting the Marshfield home together since 2008. The two met in the 1990s when they worked together in the finance industry. The landlord of the property declined to speak with reporters, but told police he'd never had any issues with the men during the years he'd rented to them.
Lombardi's attorney said everything he's heard points to an accident.
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"He’s resigned. He’s shocked because no one had told him that his friend had passed away until I told him this morning. So naturally that’s had quite a devastating effect on him mentally," said defense attorney Marshall Johnson.
Lombardi is being held until a dangerousness hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
Court documents say Griswold was estranged from his kids and ex-wife. Reached by phone, his son declined to comment about his father's death.
