NORTHAMPTON — A South Hadley man accused of beating his father to death in September and trying to set his house on fire was arraigned before Judge Karen Goodwin, Thursday, in Superior Court.
Craig Weise, through his attorney, Daniel Solomon, pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted arson of a dwelling and was ordered held without bail.
A Hampshire County grand jury indicted Weise, 35, last month in connection with the death of David Weise Sr., 70, at 37 Lawn St. on Sept. 9. He had previously been arraigned on the charges in December in Eastern Hampshire District Court.
South Hadley police officers were called to the home at approximately 4 p.m. that day after a home health care agency requested a well-being check. When police arrived, the prosecutor’s office said, they found the body of David Weise Sr. as well as evidence of recent burning within the home.
The medical examiner’s office later ruled the death a homicide, with the cause of death numerous blunt force injuries and ligature strangulation.
Craig Weise has been jailed since Sept. 10 when he was arrested after allegedly striking Holyoke police officers who were attempting to speak with him about his father’s death.
Northwestern Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl is prosecuting the case. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for July 18.