Man accused of stabbing and killing his friend faces Penobscot County judge

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - A Bangor man accused of beating and stabbing his friend to death in 2024 appeared before a judge Friday.

The attorneys representing Gary Brinson filed a motion to suppress statements Brinson made during interviews after the death of 64-year-old Lee Ruona.

Both men lived in different units of an apartment building on Union Street.

The defense is questioning the wording around multiple interviews conducted before Brinson was arrested.

Court documents say Brinson told police he and Ruona were both combat veterans who drank to forget their PTSD and did so heavily the day before.

The state had a Bangor Police detective testify and provided audio of conversations between Brinson and police.

“We hope that the judge suppresses the statements,” said Kaylee Folster, defense attorney.

“There’s a total of two from the 5th of December that we’re looking to be suppressed, and if those are suppressed, that means that it can’t be presented at trial and therefore change how our case gets presented.”

They’re hoping to get a ruling from the judge within the next week.

Brinson’s trial starts on February 23.