By Thomas J. Morgan
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - A Westerly man pleaded not guilty Thursday when arraigned on a charge of manslaughter that resulted from the stabbing death of another Westerly resident on Oct. 29.
Mandell W. Tripp, 41, of 25 White Rock Rd. was released under $50,000 bail after entering the plea before Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg of Superior Court. Tripp is to return to court for a hearing July 23. Thunberg ordered him to have no contact with the victim's family.
Tripp is accused of causing the death of Kevin Brown, 37, who was found unresponsive behind the wheel of a car that hit a tree. The police discovered that he had a stab wound and had been in a fight with Tripp.