Sailboat killer seeks parole; says he panicked

Thomas Maimoni, 62, a convicted murderer seeking parole after throwing the 37-year-old Martha Brails overboard from his sailboat 15 years ago said Tuesday he's not a threat because "my sailing days are over."
Six days after Brailsford went missing, a lobsterman pulled her nude body from the sea. An anchor was tied to one of her ankles, and a weighted belt was fastened around her waist. An autopsy revealed she suffered three blunt trauma wounds to her head and was missing several teeth, but the cause of death was drowning.

Two women testified at trial that Maimoni persuaded them to go for boat rides during the week before Brailsford's ill-fated sail. The women said Maimoni seemed friendly at first, but became sexually aggressive once they were away from shore.

The seven-member board will render a decision in six to eight weeks, Walsh said. But members gave strong indication with their questioning that Maimoni would remain behind bars.

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