When Is Hearsay Relevant?

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In State v. Scharf, decided August 11, 2014, the defendant appealed his conviction of first-degree purposeful and knowing murder of his wife. The appeal is based on a claim that the judge erred in admitting hearsay statements made by his late wife’s counselor and friends and that…

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The Right to Cross-Examine A Witness

Justices Bar Recanted Statement’s Admission Absent Testimony In State v. Slaughter, decided August 12, 2014 concerns two defendants both accused the other of being the primary killers of a man while the other looked on. The defendant in this particular case claimed that he was smoking a cigarette outside the victim’s home which was also…

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Laurel Lake man pleads guilty to 2012 accident that killed Millville Officer Christopher Reeves

This photo provided by the Millville Police Dept. shows Christopher W. Reeves. The southern New Jersey police officer has died after his cruiser and another vehicle collided early Sunday, July 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Millville Police Dept.)South Jersey Times BRIDGETON — Retracting his previous not guilty plea, Timothy Seidel admitted to being responsible for the death of…

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Driver in crash that killed cop pleads guilty

BRIDGETON – The motorist behind the wheel of the car that killed a Millville police officer two years ago accepted a plea deal in the case today, officials have said. Timothy Seidel has been in Cumberland County Jail since his arrest following the crash on July 8, 2012. He pleaded guilty Monday to charges of…

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Resentencing After Prior Conviction

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-4712 State v. Brown , App. Div. (per curiam) (25 pp.) Defendant appeals his convictions of second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a knife arising out of an altercation outside a fraternity house at Rutgers University. Prior Conviction Supporting Aggravating Sentencing Factors The…

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Police Shoot-Outs, Consecutive Sentences, and In-Court Identification

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark On June 25, 2014 this blog discussed the Yarbough criteria for sentencing as set forth in State v. Yarbough, 100 N.J. 627 (1985). In short these included: No free crimes (defendant must be sentenced for each crime they are found guilty of committing). Reason for consecutive v.…

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