U.S. Man Killed In Bar Fight With Brazilian Policeman

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) _ A Massachusetts man was shot to death in a bar fight with a Brazilian policeman, police said Saturday. <br/><br/>Joseph E. Martin was killed Thursday night outside a nightclub

Saturday, May 26th 2007, 5:54 pm

By: News On 6

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) _ A Massachusetts man was shot to death in a bar fight with a Brazilian policeman, police said Saturday.

Joseph E. Martin was killed Thursday night outside a nightclub in Lapa, Rio's bohemian district, said a police press officer who declined to give his name, in accordance with police policy.

``He saw the officer was smaller than he was so he attacked him,'' the official said. ``When they separated, the policeman shot him.''

Martin, who was from Worcester and had been in Brazil two years teaching English, was celebrating his 30th birthday the night he was killed, said Brendan Melican, a friend of Martin's in the United States.

``He loved the city, loved the country,'' Melican said. ``He really enjoyed immersing himself in the culture.''

Martin was shot in the abdomen and died of his wounds, the police spokesman said. There was no immediate report of what would be done with the body.

The officer, Joao Vicente Sa Freire, was arrested and charged with homicide. He claimed he fired in self defense, police said.