JUDGE FINDS EAST BOSTON MAN GUILTY OF FATAL ’05 STABBING Feb. 21, 2008 The Suffolk Superior Court judge who heard evidence in the case against RAFAEL BONILLA today found him guilty of manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of 22-year-old Nang Lim in East Boston. “I’ve considered the evidence and 100-plus physical exhibits,” Judge Christine McEvoy said this morning after weighing the evidence and testimony presented in a week-long jury-waived trial. “After due and thorough deliberations, I do find that the Commonwealth met its burden beyond a reasonable doubt in the elements of manslaughter.” Bonilla (D.O.B. 3/18/84), a former East Boston resident, was indicted for manslaughter after a complex and far-ranging investigation by Boston Police homicide detectives and Suffolk prosecutors into the June 11, 2005, Meridian Street confrontation that ended with Lim’s death. Two participants in that fight – HECTOR RIOS, Jr. (D.O.B. 1/26/88), and EZEKIEL SANCHEZ (D.O.B. 3/14/88) – were indicted as accomplices to Lim’s homicide and have already pleaded guilty to their roles in his death; a third – Bonilla’s brother, ORLANDO “BAM” BONILLA (D.O.B. 9/12/82) – was also indicted on a manslaughter charge and remains a fugitive from justice. Evidence and testimony introduced by Assistant District Attorney Cory Flashner proved that Lim had returned to East Boston from his night job in Danvers and was sitting on the steps of 438 Meridian St. with several friends when four men – the defendant, his brother, Rios, and Sanchez – walked by shortly before 1:45 a.m. and again a moment later. A member of Lim’s party made a gang-related remark, prompting a member of Bonilla’s group to stop. Heated words were exchanged and a large brawl began in which knives were flashed, a steel pipe was swung, and Lim suffered a grievous stab wound to his chest. Despite his friends’ efforts to staunch the blood flow with towels, he was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital a short time later. “I commend the district attorney for presenting an indictment for manslaughter and not murder given these circumstances,” McEvoy said in court. After hearing McEvoy’s findings, Flashner spoke words imparted to him by Lim’s father. “He has suffered a great loss and terribly misses his son,” the prosecutor said. “His son was a good person. He wants the Court to know the great loss his family has suffered.” Lim’s sister, Ny Lim, also addressed the Court. “My brother was a good kid,” she said. “As a family, I don’t think we can ever be happy without him … He could have been somebody. He could have made a difference in this world.” Bonilla was represented by attorney Charles Balliro. His bail has been revoked pending a March 12 sentencing hearing. Return to the Press Releases page.