Taunton, MA: Murder retrial begins for Taunton man

A retrial for a Massachusetts man accused of strangling his former girlfriend gets underway today. Souleymane Yacouba-Issa of Taunton is charged in the 2009 killing of Maryse Antoine, 46, at her sister’s house in Waltham. He was convicted of stalking Antoine in November 2010, but the jury deadlocked on a charge of first-degree murder. Opening statements are expected today in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. Authorities have said the couple, who had a 3-year-old child, had an abusive relationship and that Yacouba-Issa threatened to kill Antoine if she reported his behavior.