Quincy man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2009 killing

March 18-- Mar. 18--DEDHAM -- A Quincy man was convicted of murder Monday after a jury rejected his attorney's argument that he was insane when he raped and killed his girlfriend more than a decade ago.

After deliberating for two days, the jury found 61-year-old Joseph Beatty guilty of first-degree murder in the 2009 killing of Mary Beaton, a charge that carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without the opportunity to seek parole. Beatty, who was also convicted of aggravated rape, was due to be formally sentenced by Judge Thomas Connors Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors say Beatty strangled the 33-year-old Beaton, raped her while she was barely breathing and killed her by smothering her with a pillow in her Wollaston apartment in 2009. A jury of seven women and five men began deliberations Friday and returned a guilty verdict for one count of murder and one count of aggravated rape shortly after 2 p.m. Monday.

"I hope that today's verdict provides some small measure of comfort to the family and friends of Mary Beaton," Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a statement.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Blair told the jury in her opening arguments on March 5 that after Beatty killed Beaton, he covered her body with a Scooby Doo blanket and placed crucifixes on the pillow next to her and a cross necklace around her neck. Blair said Beatty then drove around all night.

The following day, his sister took him to Boston Medical Center because he was feeling suicidal. At the hospital Beatty was evaluated, but then released. He then told a Boston Police officer at the hospital that he killed his girlfriend.

In his closing statement on Friday, defense attorney Tim Bradl said Beatty was suffering from metal illness when he killed Beaton, brought on by his experiences of being sexually abused as a child and domestic violence in his childhood home. Bradl asked the jury to find Beatty not guilty because of insanity, which would have sent him to a mental facility, or guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

In her closing statement, Blair said that Beatty had plenty of opportunity to go for help after the killing.

"This crime was committed in such a deliberate manner," Blair told jurors. "Think of all the time that passed, all the points when he could have called for help."

Beatty was indicted by a Norfolk County grand jury weeks after the murder and pleaded not guilty to murder and aggravated rape at his October 2009 arraignment.

In the years since, Beatty has gone through several competency hearings, according to court records. He was committed to Bridgewater State Hospital at one point because he was deemed a possible danger to himself. The hospital is a medium security facility that typically houses pre-trial detainees sent for competency and criminal responsibility evaluations by the court and civilly committed defendants. David Traub, Morrissey's spokesman, said that competency concerns and defense attorney changed repeatedly delayed Beatty's trial. Beatty was deemed competent to stand trial earlier this year.

Fred Hanson contributed reporting to this story.

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