ALFRED — Derek Poulin was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his grandmother, Patricia Noel.
Poulin, 26, stabbed and beat his grandmother, Patricia Noel, 61, to death on Oct. 23, 2012 in her Old Orchard Beach home and then set the house on fire.
Poulin and his father lived with Noel at Noel’s 44 Wesley Ave. home. Poulin was unemployed and more interested in playing video games than getting a job, and letters written by Noel state that he called her derogatory names and blew smoke in her face, and she wanted him to find a new place to live, said Assistant Attorney General Leane Zania.
“There was no empathy, there were no tears for the loss of his grandmother,” she said. She described the murder as savage, and done for “very selfish reasons,” because he wouldn’t have a place to stay.
More than 70 stab wounds were found on Noel’s body, and prosecutors have said the knife used to stab her was bent from so much use. Prosecutors said Poulin beat Noel with a golf club until the handle broke off. They said wounds in Noel’s head matched the size and shape of a wrench that was also used to beat her.
Poulin appeared in court Wednesday for his sentencing, wearing an orange prison uniform. He was silent, showing no emotion when his father said to him, “I love you, D.”
Justice John O’Neil gave Poulin the maximun sentence in both charges – life in prison for murder and 30 years for arson.
In Maine, he will serve the full sentence because such a sentence is not subject to probation.
“I struggled with this case from the moment I began hearing it,” said O’Neil.
O’Neil said it was clear to him that Noel was a caring, giving, selfless person, and that Poulin, who had no prior criminal record, had been raised by loving parents.
He said he may have been more lenient had he heard from Poulin “one word” of believable sorrow or remorse.
O’Neil said that, in police interviews the day of his grandmother’s murder, Poulin seemed unfazed by his grandmother’s death, and was instead angry that he had lost a place to live.
“That interview with the Old Orchard Beach Police is frankly chilling to listen to,” said O’Neil.
Patricia Noel’s daughter, Darcy Daniels, recalled watching the evening news on Oct. 23, 2012.
“They said her name on live TV, that’s how I learned about her death.”
She said that, after hearing the details in court, there are images that she will never be able to get out of her mind.
“I am just heartbroken. I will never be the same,” she said. She said Poulin deserved no less than a life sentence.
Noel’s brother, Stephen Kollar, described his sister as a friend who never asked for anything in return.
“She could put a smile on your face in no time,” he said.
He described Noel as someone who was very giving, always thought of others fist, never took a vacation, and “worked her tail off.”
Poulin’s father, Reggie Poulin, and his mother and former step-father, Cathleen and Tim Emery, asked the judge for leniency.
Tim Emery described Poulin growing up as a good student, who was liked by teachers and classmates and excelled in sports, and still had the same group of friends he had in elementary school.
“He was never trouble, always a lot of fun,” said Emery.
Reggie Poulin said he lost his mother, and now was going to lose his son, and would never get to play golf or go to Fort Williams Park with him again.
“I don’t want to lose another person in my life,” he said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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