An appeals court in Newark NJ recently upheld the conviction of a man who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and then tried to kill her by shoving her into oncoming traffic.
The defendant had dated the victim for nearly three years before she broke up with him in 2009. This angered the defendant, who picked up his ex-girlfriend and forced her into his car.
According to authorities, the defendant hit the victim in the face after she got into the vehicle. He then threatened to kill her.
At one point during the terrifying ordeal, the defendant knocked the victim unconscious and began violently biting her.
When the defendant crashed his car on the concrete median on Route 78 East, the victim attempted to escape. However, the defendant tackled her and then pushed her in front of an oncoming truck.
The defendant was ultimately convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. During the trial, the defendant admitted that he probably did what he was accused of doing.
The defendant appealed his conviction, arguing that the judge at his trial had engaged in misconduct by questioning witnesses and cutting off certain testimony. The defendant also argued that the sentence handed down by the judge was excessive.
The appellate court rejected the defendant’s appeal, stating that the trial judge acted appropriately and that the sentence was appropriate given the “heinous brutality and cruelty” of the defendant’s actions.
As a result of the appellate court’s decision to uphold the sentence, the defendant will not be eligible for parole until 2030.
For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Conviction Upheld for Man Who Kidnapped Ex-Girlfriend, Mutilated Her and Pushed Her into Traffic.”
