Westerly murder suspect Seignious complains about segregation during court appearance
Louis M. Seignious Jr., who is awaiting extradition to Rhode Island to face a charge that he murdered his cousin in Westerly on Jan. 25, complained to a New London judge Wednesday about being held in segregation at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville.
"I'm not a threat to myself," Seignious said as he stood before Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein. "I'm not a threat to anyone in the population. I just feel like this is unnecessary."
Seignious, 31, is accused of fatally shooting his 28-year-old Mashantucket Pequot Tribal cousin Vincent A. Sebastian III at 11B Marriott Ave. in Westerly on Jan. 25. Police say Seignious was jealous that Sebastian was dating a former girlfriend who is the mother of one of Seignious' children.
Seignious appeared in New London Superior Court on different but related charges Wednesday. Police allege he fled to the Mashantucket Pequot reservation following the shooting and nearly struck a police cruiser head on and narrowly missed striking another cruiser before forcing cars off the road on Pequot Trail. He abandoned his car on nearby Shewville Road in Ledyard, according to police, and remained on the run until the following Saturday, when he was arrested at a Groton apartment complex.
Seignious' wife and small children were on one side of the courtroom, and Sebastian family members on the other side Wednesday when he was brought before the judge in a red prison jumpsuit. His attorney, Kevin C. Barrs, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and said authorities are still working on Seignious' extradition.
In the meantime, Barrs said, he's being held in segregation in Connecticut because the Department of Correction has determined he's a danger to himself and others. For that reason, Barrs said, Seignious has been unable to have contact with his family members.
Seignious is expected to be extradited to Rhode Island on Friday, but the judge said he would request that he be moved into general population in the meantime.
As he was led back to the lockup area, the family members on one side of the courtroom told Seignious "We love you," while someone on the other side muttered "Murderer" as they left the courtroom.
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