Dead Man’s Family Gets $315K in Connecticut Lawsuit

A Connecticut lawyer serving 12 years in prison for fatally stabbing a neighbor he thought had molested his daughter has been found civilly responsible for his actions and ordered to pay the victim’s family $315,000.

A Superior Court jury on Tuesday ruled in favor of Barry James’ family.

James’ sister, Charlene Benoit, tells The Connecticut Post the decision restores her brother’s reputation.

The family’s lawyer says they don’t expect to get any money from Jonathon Edington, who’s serving a 12-year prison term after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of the 59-year-old James in August 2006.

Edington stabbed James 13 times because he thought James had molested his 2-year-old daughter. Police found no evidence that James had molested the girl.

Edington, who represented himself, refused comment.