[WT]

Something to consider before becoming a 'good witness' to a crime.


NEWARK STAR LEDGER
Dec. 17, 2005

Yesterday, NJ Superior Court Judge Paul Vichness ordered the release of accused murderer Louis Bey, an alleged Bloods gang member, because the star witness had been killed.

The witness, Carmen Estronza, was one of four people found shot to death in a vacant Newark lot the day after Thanksgiving. Those slayings are unsolved, and authorities have not ruled out that Estronza's status as a witness played a role in her killing.

Bey, 18, was charged with the September killing of Edwin Reyes-Cruz, 23, who was robbed and shot in the head.

Estronza told investigators she watched the shooting from the window of her apartment in 963 Frelinghuysen, and she was expected to testify, according to police.

After Estronza and three others were found dead the day after Thanskgiving on nearby Ludlow Avenue, police first said they doubted it was to silence her testimony, but later said it is one of the possible motives for the killings.

Under court rules, defense attorneys -- and the defendants themselves -- are entitled to immediate access to probable cause information used to justify an arrest. Often, the only probable cause is the statement of a witness.

On Tuesday, Dec. 14 four more were killed execution style in the ongoing Crips-Bloods war in Newark.

[WT]

'SAINTS' killed in Newark on Tuesday

Robert ‘Torch’ Brown, 25 was shot on Clinton Avenue. Brown was described by a friend as an aspiring rapper and artist. "He was just a regular guy, into just being by himself and his music," said the friend.

Nyru Simmonds, 20, was shot on Elizabeth Avenue near Meeker Avenue and died at University Hospital in Newark. "He was just an innocent person at the wrong place at the wrong time” said his mother.

Ronald ‘Smoke’ Logan, 20, was shot in the hallway of an apartment building on Turner Blvd. "He was a very quiet person and well-mannered," his mother said. ‘Smoke, a high school dropout, was just out of jail and “dreamed of being an architect.”

Sutton Davis, 22, was shot five times.



“Law-abiding people should not fear a spate of violence that largely involves criminals as victims” said Mayor Sharpe James.


On the same day Newark police officer Nuvar Tehlikian was slightly wounded as he approached 2 men. One of the men shot at him and Tehlikian returned fire. Three suspects were later arrested.

[Mute]

Those slayings are unsolved, and authorities have not ruled out that Estronza's status as a witness played a role in her killing.

Really now! Someone should sign these geniuses up for Mensa. :rolleyes:

[Preacherman]

“Law-abiding people should not fear a spate of violence that largely involves criminals as victims” said Mayor Sharpe James.
I agree, Your Honor, but what happens if law-abiding people get caught in the cross-fire?

:fire:

[PAshooter]

Law-abiding people should not fear a spate of violence that largely involves criminals as victims

Yeah, right... provided they don't get the bright idea to testify against any of those criminals.

[The_Antibubba]

I didn't think this kind of thing happened in New Jersey. :rolleyes:

[R.H. Lee]

Those slayings are unsolved, and authorities have not ruled out that Estronza's status as a witness played a role in her killing.
Nah, it's just a coincidence, Sherlock. :rolleyes:

[beerslurpy]

Why dont the local citizens just start shooting these turds? Everyone knows who the gang-bangers are and who the dealers are. If you can see someone commit a robbery/murder, you can certainly hit them with a rifle. With the cops barely lifting a finger to catch anyone, you would think that this would be a ripe opportunity for vilgilante justice. If a few dozen thugs can cause this much trouble, think of what a few dozen armed citizens could accomplish with rifles and a sack full of doorknobs.

I mean, the worst that will happen is that they kill you, which they already seem to be doing in unprecedented numbers. Better to die fighting than begging. You dont see ???? like this happening in my neck of the woods, oddly enough.

[R.H. Lee]

I like beerslurpy's idea. The 'authorities' wouldn't figure it out, either. It's a 'win-win'. :p

[Sindawe]

But if people starting shooting the crimminals they see raping/robbing/murdering others, they might start to think that the cops and the rest of the .gov are useless at protecting the law abiding of the nation, and start doing things for themselves in other areas of of life.

Why, it would be ANARCHY!!

/cynical sarcasm

[WT]

In the old days in Newark if one stepped out of line in the North Ward (Italian) or Ironbound Section (Portugese), one got a slug in the head and was then stuffed into a sewer manhole. Eventually the BG would be found floating in Newark Bay.

They used to be nice safe neighborhoods, good restaurants, schools. Then I guess all the WWII veterans (who wouldn't put up with any BS) moved out or passed away.

[c_yeager]

Why dont the local citizens just start shooting these turds? Everyone knows who the gang-bangers are and who the dealers are.

Considering the location you would have to do it with FMJ and inside your own home. Killers get a couple of years then it's out the door. "Vigilantes" go away for 10-20. (weapons violation + Murder 1 + "Hate Crimes" + Media Attention). Nifty set-up aint it?

[beerslurpy]

I forgot about NJ and their banning of hollowpoints. Thats insane.

Well thank god I live in a state where using deadly force to prevent a violent felony against 3rd party is allowed.

[Standing Wolf]

...you would think that this would be a ripe opportunity for vilgilante justice. If a few dozen thugs can cause this much trouble, think of what a few dozen armed citizens could accomplish with rifles and a sack full of doorknobs.

Vigilante justice isn't justice, and I can't imagine law-abiding citizens in New Jersey having enough gumption to stand up and take back the streets. If people in New Jersey had gumption, they'd throw most of their elected misrepresentatives in jail and start fresh with clean.

[Model520Fan]

Vigilante justice isn't justice, and I can't imagine law-abiding citizens in New Jersey having enough gumption to stand up and take back the streets. If people in New Jersey had gumption, they'd throw most of their elected misrepresentatives in jail and start fresh with clean.

I don't get it. What are you saying here? How would law-abiding citizens take back the streets, gumption or no gumption, without being called vigilantes? And how would they throw elected misrepresentatives into jail? Barring vigilante action, this is done by judges, after a fair trial with live witnesses, the defendants having been arrested by police or sheriffs' deputies, not by people with gumption.

I know you're trying to tell us something here. I'm just not sure what.

??

[Standing Wolf]

I know you're trying to tell us something here. I'm just not sure what.

If the people of New Jersey had any guts, they'd throw the crooks and parasites out of office, elect people of integrity, and have the crooks and parasites arrested, prosecuted, and sent to prison.

People who don't have enough guts to take back their state in voting booths aren't too likely to go toe-to-toe with armed criminals.