Moura waives arraignment, bail hearing set for Tuesday

Strong police presence inside the courthouse for Justin Moura's appearance Tuesday.

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A Jeep was towed from Auburn Street following the March 2 shooting. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings

MANCHESTER, NH — More than a dozen Manchester police officers filled the second floor lobby of Hillsborough County Superior Court – North Tuesday awaiting the arraignment of Justin Moura, 34, accused in the shooting death of Tanya Hall, a 34-year-old mother of an 18-month-old son.

Although Moura was in a holding cell in the basement of the courthouse, he opted not to appear in court and instead signed a form waiving arraignment on a second-degree murder charge.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley said Moura asked for a bail hearing, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Asked why there was such a large police presence, Hinckley said he relies on the victim/witness and police assessment as to what security is necessary.   He noted there were other cases being arraigned and officers may have been present for those.  He acknowledged, however, there were numerous officers present for the case.

“I defer to them on questions involving what steps to take to make a victim’s family, already traumatized by the homicide of a loved one, feel safe and secure,” he said.  “That is not unusual, and I have had that occur before on cases.  It also is a right to which they are entitled to by law under the Victim’s Bill of Rights, and a right that we take seriously as an office,”  Hinckley said.

At the north end of the lobby were family and friends of Moura, while family and friends of murder victim Tanya Hall were ushered into a conference room at the opposite end of the lobby.  Officers stood in between.

Hall died late in the evening of March 2 from a gunshot wound to the back.  She and her boyfriend, Jeremy Roye Winslow, co-owner of Southie Strong Gym in Boston, had gone out for a night of dancing at Club Manchvegas on Old Granite Street.

Winslow told WBZ TV that he had a brief confrontation with Moura inside the club.  When three local motorcycle club members moved toward them, he and Hall left the club.  He said the men pursued them to his Jeep and punched his windows as he drove away.  A shot was fired, striking Hall in the back.

Hinckley, when asked whether the case was gang-related, said no. He added that he could not provide any additional information outside of what was given in news releases because the investigation is ongoing, more interviews are taking place and he did not want to run the risk of tainting any witnesses’ statements because of outside influences. 

He did say there was no relationship between Moura and Hall.

Hall, according to her Facebook page titled “Remembering Tanya Hall,” studied biology at Riviera College and lived in Hudson.  She was originally from Nashua.

Winslow told NECN that he and Hall were going to Barbados in a couple of weeks where he planned to propose.


Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:50 p.m. to include an additional comment by Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley.

About this Author

Pat Grossmith

Pat Grossmith is a freelance reporter.