Massachusetts Parole Board Splits Decision on 2010 Pizza Courier Slaying; Primary Assailant Denied Release

The Mass. Parole Board granted release to Michel St. Jean but denied Alexander Gallett, the man who fatally stabbed a delivery driver in 2010.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 8:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Boston Herald.

Differential Justice in the Richel Nova Homicide Case

The Massachusetts Parole Board has issued a split ruling regarding two men convicted in the high'profile 2010 murder of pizza delivery driver Richel Nova. Last week, the board authorized the release of 35'year'old Michel St. Jean, who was 20 years old at the time of the ambush. However, the board reached a different conclusion for Alexander Gallett, the accomplice identified as the individual who physically inflicted the fatal stab wounds. While St. Jean's transition plan was approved, the board determined that Gallett's release would be incompatible with the welfare of society, citing the "unspeakable acts of violence" associated with his specific role in the crime.

Reviewing the 2010 Hyde Park Ambush

The case dates back to a calculated set'up in the Hyde Park neighborhood, where Nova was lured to an abandoned house under the guise of a food delivery. Upon arrival, he was confronted by Gallett, St. Jean, and a third accomplice. Investigations revealed that the group's motive was a robbery that yielded only a small amount of cash and the victim's vehicle. The brutality of the encounter, which ended in Nova's death, shocked the local community and led to life sentences for the participants. In the intervening years, changes in parole eligibility and the board's evaluation of "diminished culpability" for younger adults have brought the case back into the public record.

The Board's Rationale for Continued Incarceration

In denying Gallett's petition, the Parole Board focused heavily on the disparity between his actions and those of his co'defendants. While St. Jean was viewed as a participant in the robbery who has since demonstrated significant rehabilitation and insight into his behavior, Gallett was viewed as the primary aggressor. The board's written decision emphasized that the nature of the stabbing was particularly callous and that Gallett has not yet reached a level of behavioral maturity that would mitigate the risk of recidivism. Consequently, he will remain in state prison for at least several more years before becoming eligible for another review.