Dorchester man charged with ending year-long beef by running down knife-wielding opponent

Updated 3:30 p.m.

A dispute that went back more than a year ended in April at Talbot Avenue and Westcott Street after one combatant flashed a knife and the other got in his car and ran him down, prosecutors charge.

Antwan Wathey, 25, was found in California last week and was arraigned today in Dorchester District Court on a charge of murder for the death of James Taylor, 20, around 1:25 a.m. on April 13, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Prosecutors allege the two had been feuding for more than a year when Taylor and at least one pal, walking down Talbot Avenue, came upon Wathey, standing next to his 2000 Mazda Millennia near Norwell Street. And then:

[Assistant District Attorney Michael] Callahan said the two men argued briefly and then engaged in a physical altercation. As Taylor and an associate walked away, Callahan said, Taylor showed a knife but was at least 10 feet away from the Wathey when he did so.

Taylor and the associate continued walking on Talbot Avenue toward Blue Hill Avenue, crossing the street as they reached Westcott Street. At about that point, Callahan said, Wathey’s vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed in their direction, veered toward Taylor, and struck him.

The car did not slow or stop and proceeded onto Bernard Street before leaving the area entirely, Callahan said. Taylor suffered fatal trauma to his head and body. He was pronounced dead of those injuries later the same morning at Boston Medical Center.

A Dorchester District Court judge ordered Wathey held without bail.

Innocent, etc.