BOSTON, July 21, 2015—A Dorchester man was convicted yesterday of beating a woman and coordinating with his girlfriend to intimidate her into ending her cooperation with the prosecution, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury yesterday convicted KEITA FREEMAN (D.O.B. 8/4/71) of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. Jurors also convicted Williams’ girlfriend, PAMELA FERRIE (D.O.B. 4/12/70) of witness intimidation. Freeman had additionally been indicted for assault and battery on a pregnant woman; jurors acquitted him on that charge.

Assistant District Attorney Gregory Henning proved during three days of trial that Freeman approached the victim, who was then 30 years old and three and a half months pregnant, on the front porch of a Williams Street apartment building, where the victim was visiting a friend. In the apparent belief that the victim had entered that building’s basement and disturbed items belonging to Ferrie, the evidence showed, Freeman beat her repeatedly with a steel chair.

Testimony at trial suggested that the victim attempted to defend herself with a knife but was disarmed by Freeman. Testimony also suggested that she repeatedly stated she was pregnant during the assault.

Henning further proved that, while held on bail following his arrest, Freeman colluded with Ferrie to threaten the victim in an attempt to prevent her from testifying in court proceedings. Ferrie told the victim that she and her baby would be “done” if she continued to cooperate with police and prosecutors. Knowing that she wrestled with addiction, Freeman and Ferrie later developed a plan to buy her silence with drugs.

“If these defendants believed they could escape prosecution for beating and threatening a woman, they were sorely mistaken,” Conley said. “No matter who you are, no matter your station in life, if you come to us for help then Suffolk prosecutors and Boston police will go to the wall to protect you.”

Freeman and Ferrie face sentencing at 9:00 Thursday morning before Judge Garry Inge.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.