Dover NJ Homicide LawyerA Dover, NJ man is on trial in Morris County Superior Court for allegedly beating a man to death with a metal pole outside a bar.

The 29-year-old defendant exited Mero’s Lounge after an altercation inside the bar. Around the same time, a bouncer at the bar ejected the 26-year-old victim.

According to prosecutors, the defendant later told investigators that he “hit the guy in the stomach” with the metal pole because the victim had inappropriately touched the defendant’s wife on the rear end. Prosecutors also said that the defendant confessed to punching the victim “for no reason.”

During opening arguments in the trial, the prosecutor in the case told the jury that the defendant deliberately hit the victim with a metal stanchion and killed him. However, the defendant’s attorney told jurors that the defendant was not responsible for the victim’s death and that the bouncer at the bar actually hit the defendant first.

The bouncer was charged with aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim, but his trial will take place separately.

If the defendant in the murder trial is convicted of first degree homicide, he could face severe punishment. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, homicide is the most serious offense in the NJ criminal code. If the defendant is convicted, he could be sentenced to between 30 years and life in New Jersey State Prison.

For more information, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Dover Man Goes to Trial in Beating Death Outside Bar in 2011.”

 

If you are facing homicide or murder charges in New Jersey, contact Morristown NJ criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey for a free consultation about your case.