NASHUA – Michael Twohig, the 42-year-old Brookline man accused of going after another driver with a hatchet and punching her in the head during a road rage episode last year, is now claiming his alleged actions were a matter of self-defense.

Twohig, in a notice of self-defense filed recently in Hillsborough County Superior Court South, asserts he “took action he believed was necessary to defend himself against unlawful force,” apparently by the three people he is accused of threatening or assaulting during the incident.

According to court documents, a trial had initially been scheduled for earlier this year, but it was continued, and remains pending, while the attorneys and the court address competency issues that had been raised.

Twohig, of 242 Route 13, is facing two felony and three misdemeanor offenses. He was indicted in January on the felonies – one count each of reckless conduct – deadly weapon, and criminal threatening – deadly weapon.

The misdemeanors include two counts of simple assault and one count of obstructing the report of a crime, which stems from Twohig’s alleged attempt to hit the witness with his car while she was on the phone with police.

Police reports and court filings describe a harrowing series of events that unfolded a year ago next week along Route 13 near the intersection of Bond Street, just south of the center of town.

Police said they were called around 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18 to the area of the Citgo service station, opposite the Bond Street intersection, for a “road rage incident … that had just occurred.”

Responding officers “spoke with several witnesses … at the scene, and it was later determined that the suspect was identified as Michael Twohig,” police wrote in their reports.

According to witnesses, a vehicle, allegedly driven by Twohig, was pulling out of the parking lot of the Alamo restaurant onto Route 13 while a northbound vehicle was approaching that location.

Witnesses told police the driver of the northbound vehicle “had to abruptly apply (the) brakes, so as not to collide with” Twohig’s vehicle.

Moments later, witnesses told police, Twohig allegedly “began recklessly braking his car, sporadically, on Route 13 … to provoke” the other driver.

Upon reaching the area of the Citgo station, police said Twohig allegedly “stopped his vehicle, entirely, in the middle of the road (and) exited his vehicle … a road rage incident subsequently occurred,” according to the reports.

There was “a heated exchange of words,” police said, after which Twohig allegedly slammed the passenger side door “on the legs of the passenger,” described as the driver’s husband.

According to police, Twohig “then focused his (alleged) violent rage onto (the female driver) … multiple witnesses observed him (allegedly) punching her” in the side of her head “with closed fists.”

Witnesses told police that moments later, Twohig allegedly “retrieved a hatchet from his car and (allegedly) began to threaten” the driver and her passenger, “plus some of the witnesses at the scene.”

Next, the witnesses told the officers, Twohig got back into his car and allegedly “drove toward (a witness) in an attempt to hit her.” Police said the female witness was standing on the side of Route 13 at the fog line, and was in the process of speaking on her phone with police about the incident.

Officers located Twohig at his residence, where police said they took him into custody.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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