Bridgewater Man Arraigned for Allegedly Bludgeoning Neighbor to Death With Hammer

BROCKTON (WBSM) — A Bridgewater man has been arraigned on charges that he allegedly bludgeoned his neighbor to death with a hammer.

According to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, Dinis Moreira, 69, was arraigned today in Brockton Superior Court on one count each of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Moreira pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.

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The D.A.’s Office said that the charges relate to the May 26, 2023 homicide of Valerie Oakhem, 58, one of Moreira’s Spring Street neighbors.

On that date, Bridgewater Police received a call from Moreira’s son, who said he received a call from his father indicating that someone he had an altercation with was in his home and was injured. He said he went to his father’s home and found an injured woman on the kitchen floor.

Police arrived and found that the woman, identified as Oakhem, had severe trauma to her head and face. She was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, where she was pronounced deceased.

Bridgewater Police and Massachusetts State Police determined Moreira allegedly bludgeoned Oakhem to death with a hammer in a targeted act of violence, and that it was not a random attack.

The state medical examiner determined the exact cause of death to be homicide as a result of head and torso injuries.

Moreira is next scheduled to appear in court on November 16.