Crime & Safety

Paul Pierce Assailant Convicted in South End Murder Attempt

Trevor Watson found guilty of trying to kill DEA informant in February.

Trevor Watson, one of two men convicted in the 2000 attack on Celtics star Paul Pierce, was found guilty of attempted murder of a Drug Enforcement Administration informant by a federal jury on Thursday, the US Attorney's office announced.

Watson, a 44-year-old Dorchester resident, faces up to 30 years in prison for the crime, which was committed outside Ann's Unisex Barbershop on Tremont Street in the South End. His sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2011.

It's the second time in the last month that Watson has been brought to a federal jury on charges of tampering with a witness. A mistrial was declared in the case on Nov. 9 because of a hung jury. The second trial began Monday.

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Evidence introduced at the most recent trial showed that Watson stabbed the informant approximately 10 times, causing serious injuries to the victim's colon and intestines, US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said in a statement.

While stabbing the informant, Watson said, "you talking, huh? you telling." According to testimony at trial, the informant had provided information against Watson in a federal cocaine trafficking investigation, Ortiz said.

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Prosecutors also proved that Watson manipulated witnesses prepared to testify against him in the Paul Pierce trial by exposing letters and phone calls made from prison to his associates.

In those letters, Watson wrote, "I had introduced my lawyer to the fact that if the victim in my case was to sign an affidavit saying I'm not the guy who stabbed him, it was some Spanish guy about 30, which I am not either, I'll be alright..." and "The Paul Pierce case was the same way, but at trial he changed his statements and I got found not guilty of att. mur. (attempted murder)."

Prior to the the Pierce trial, one witness told investigators she saw a man named "Trevor" stab Pierce, but recanted that statement before trial, according to prosecutors.

Watson served a one-year sentence after being convicted of assault and battery.


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