By: Laura Soukkavong
Boston – A 31-year-old Quincy man was sentenced in Suffolk County Court in connection with the 2023 death of a Woburn resident.
Anusi Sadiq was convicted in Jan. of manslaughter following a retrial before a Suffolk County jury. An earlier trial held in Feb 2025 ended in a mistrial.
On March 17, 2023, at 9 p.m., the Boston Police were dispatched to Winter Street and Winter Place in Downtown Crossing for a report of an unresponsive man outside a TD Bank ATM. The individual was later identified as Barry Whelan, 46, of Woburn.
He was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for a traumatic brain injury, but later on succumbed to his injuries.
Surveillance footage shows Whelan and Sadiq in a verbal exchange that lasted several minutes. The footage concluded with Sadiq striking Whelan in the head from behind. Whelan fell backward and struck his head on the pavement. Sadiq then left the area on foot.
Sadiq was later identified and questioned by investigators, who acknowledged striking Whelan. According to court proceedings, Sadiq told police the two men did not know each other and that the verbal exchange included racially charged language.
Before sentencing, Sadiq addressed the court and apologized to Whelan’s family and loved ones, describing his actions as a moment of poor judgement that permanently altered the course of his life.
Sadiq was sentenced to three to six years in state prison by Judge Mary Ames.