The Bloomfield man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend on Valentine's Day said nothing inside Bristol Superior Court as the judge increased his bond to $3 million.
James Carter II is charged with murder and violating a restraining order in the death of Tiana Notice of Plainville. Prosecutors encouraged Judge Peter Emmett Wiese to set Carter's bond at $5 million dollars. Carter's defense attorney asked for a $2 million bond.
Plainville police say Notice was stabbed multiple times at her apartment late Saturday night. They arrested Carter a short time later.
The crime happened just hours after Notice went to the Plainville Police Department for help, after getting emails she thought were from Carter that violated a restraining order she had against him.
Notice's father says she appealed to Plainville police for help in the past, after her tires were slashed, after she received other emails, and after she received a note on her door. He says she also tried to file a complaint with police in Waterbury, after getting harassed at work, but was told to come back at a later date.
Plainville police say they followed proper procedure. They say emails contained no direct threats, so they opened investigations rather than making an immediate arrest.
"If you aren't going to seek an arrest warrant, the situation is escalating, have an officer drive by the apartment every hour on the hour," said Alvin Notice, the victim's father.
Alvin Notice did what he could to help his daughter, installing a security camera outside her apartment building.
"Never thought there was a possibility that the camera may be witnessing my daughter's murder," said Notice, as tears fell down his face.
James Carter is due back in court later this month. Court papers from the case remain sealed for 14 days.
"Our family is devastated beyond words," said Lucy Eloi, the victim's aunt. "This is a promising young lady who could have done so much in this world."
