A murder defendant in Maine has been granted access to the state’s evidence against him, after a week of being kept in the dark. Lorenze Labonte, 25, had been barred from viewing the police affidavit used to charge him with the murder of Ahmed Sharif. Sharif, 27, was found dead on November 24 at a Biddeford apartment where Labonte had previously lived. During Labonte’s first appearance in court, the affidavit was sealed from the public and the defendant himself. The judge’s decision to seal the document and deny Labonte access to it raised speculation about secret witnesses or the possibility of more arrests. However, prosecutors filed a new motion this week to allow Labonte’s attorneys to discuss the evidence with him, although he is still not permitted to have his own copy. The judge agreed to the change and also issued a list of people that Labonte cannot contact. It remains unclear whether Sharif’s death is connected to a nearby shooting that occurred a day after Labonte’s arrest. In a separate incident, Ariana Tito, identified as Labonte’s sister in court records, has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting of Kayla Grant. Tito, 18, allegedly shot Grant at the same address in Saco where Labonte was arrested. Tito was arrested in New York and Maine authorities are working on her extradition. The cases of Labonte and Tito have not been confirmed as related by prosecutors and police.
