City man's murder trial begins with view of shooting scene near former Friendly's

Justin Belanger stands with his defense lawyers while waiting for the jury to arrive at the former Friendly's parking lot near where the shooting that killed Billy Jo Ahearn occurred. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - The trial of a Rochester man accused in the 2018 shooting death of a city transient continues today after jurors were given a tour of the murder scene and the suspect's former Lafayette Street apartment where he formerly lived.

Justin Belanger, 21, sporting an Afro and wearing a suit and tie as he entered the courtroom, stands charged in the death of Billy Joe Ahearn, 24, who died on June 6, 2018, a short time after a midnight shooting near the former Friendly's restaurant on South Main Street.
Belanger is charged with two alternative counts of second-degree murder, one for knowingly causing the death of Ahearn by shooting her with a pistol, and the other for recklessly causing Ahearn's death by shooting her with a pistol. He also charged with falsifying physical evidence for allegedly trying to getting rid of the murder weapon.

2019 booking photo of Justin Belanger and Bill Jo Ahearn. (Courtesy)

Prior to leaving for the views at the former Friendly's restaurant parking lot where the shooting occurred and Belanger's Lafayette Street apartment, defense lawyers told the jury two men ran from the shooting scene and were never caught, hinting at a possible alternative theory for who was responsible for Ahearn's death.

The trial had originally been scheduled for September 2020, but pandemic protocols prevented its moving forward until now.
A police affidavit suggests that Belanger may have been aiming at someone else, and not the 24-year-old Ahearn, formerly of Raymond.
The affidavit, partially redacted and filed by Rochester Detective Geoff Moore, sheds light on what may have happened shortly before midnight on June 5, 2019, when Ahearn was fatally wounded.
According to the affidavit, Rochester Police responded to the corner of Waldron Avenue and Lafayette Street the day before the shooting for a report of shots fired. Once on scene, they witnessed the suspect, Justin Belanger, then 19, of Rochester, arguing with a man Ahearn was with when she was shot.
"Justin Belanger, who was visibly upset, said words to him to the effect that he would 'catch' the identified adult male when the police were not around," the affidavit states.

Murder suspect Justin Belanger closes his eyes during opening jury instructions by Strafford Superior Court Judge Mark E. Howard on Monday.

The same man told police that as they passed by Belanger on South Main Street on June 5, he saw the suspect reach into his pocket, saw a flash and heard a gunshot just before Ahearn was shot.
The affidavit also indicates another man who was walking with Belanger on South Main at the time of the shooting told police he saw Belanger point his gun at the man walking with Ahearn.
When officers responded to the shooting they found three adults, including Ahearn, who had sustained a gunshot wound. She died early the next morning at a local hospital.
Belanger was indicted on the pair of second-degree murder charges in June 2019.

Ahearn, originally from Raymond, had been living in Rochester prior to her death.
Belanger remains held at Strafford County Jail on no bail. He faces a maximum life sentence if convicted.

The trial is expected to last through Friday.