As a rule, such cases should be handled at the county level. But the Messier case, which was exposed by the Globe in February, cried out for closer attention. The 23-year-old Messier, who suffered from profound mental illness, died of cardiopulmonary arrest after being restrained by guards. The condition of his body, including blunt force trauma wounds, prompted a state medical examiner to rule the death a homicide. But Cruz failed to present evidence to a grand jury and has remained steadfast in his belief that there is insufficient cause to charge anyone with a crime, even though Messier’s death was captured on video.
Coakley’s choice of Boston lawyer Martin Murphy to lead the investigation should put both Messier’s family and the public at ease. In his days as a Middlesex prosecutor, Murphy supervised more than 100 murder cases. For the first time since the uncovering of the Messier case, there is a strong sense that justice will be served.