Suspect in Murder of Northeastern Student Pleads

Rebecca Payne, 22, of New Milford, was killed in Boston in 2008.

The man accused of shooting and killing a Northeastern University student from New Milford in Boston in 2008 pleaded not guilty in a Boston court in court on Monday.

Prosecutors said Rebecca Payne, 22, was an innocent victim when she was murdered four years ago.

The college senior was found shot multiple times in her Boston apartment just after returning home from a shift at Legal Seafoods, a popular seafood restaurant in Boston.

Her body was found around 6 a.m. on May 20, 2008 and police believe Payne was mistaken for a woman who lived in the building and had gang ties.

Boston police have charged Cornell Smith, 30, of Boston with first-degree murder, armed assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.

His arraignment was delayed because he is currently in jail for an unrelated drug charge and is serving a 12-year federal prison sentence.

Payne's parents were sitting in the front row of the in court during the arraignment, clutching photos of their daughter.

They said Smith didn't appear remorseful and seeing him was heart-wrenching.

Michael Balboa, 55, of Billerica, Massachusetts, was also arrested and charged for four counts of perjury, accused of lying to the grand jury during the investigation.

Balba pleaded not guilty to four counts of perjury to a grand jury investigating the fatal shooting.

A prosecutor said Balba was a crack user who bought drugs from Smith and drove him and another man to a location near Payne's apartment the night she was killed.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us