By Suzanne Russell , Courier News and Home Tribune
A North Brunswick man has been sentenced to 70 years in state prison for the 2014 murder of his neighbor.
Roland Amos, 44, was sentenced Monday by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves to 70 years in state prison on the murder charge, plus 10 years on a weapons charge. The two sentences will run consecutively for a total of 80 years. Amos must serve 40 years before becoming eligible for parole.
“I was going to impose a life sentence,” Nieves said.
And that’s what Mel Kanter wanted. Hoey’s father, who is from the Somerset section of Franklin, said that even if Amos serves 40 years, it’s not enough.
But Amos maintains his innocence. Through his attorneys, Melissa Karabulut and Adam Axel of the Office of the Public Defender, Amos said he plans to appeal his convictions and sentence.
Prior to the sentencing, Axel argued a motion for an acquittal because there were no eyewitnesses and the gun was never recovered, but Nieves denied the motion.
In February, Amos was found guilty of murder for fatally shooting Brian Hoey, 43, who was shot seven times, including twice in the back as he fled into his home, where he collapsed into his 8-year old daughter’s arms.
The daughter, now 11, cried through much of the sentencing.
Kanter told the court that he lost his son and his granddaughter’s smiles.
“This is what I lost. You don’t see that smile anymore,” he said.
Kanter also spoke directly to Amos, telling him he wanted him to remember his son for the rest of his life.
“I didn’t kill your son,” Amos said.
Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christine D’Elia said Hoey was not the only victim in the case. She said several people were impacted by the shooting, including Hoey’s daughter, who won’t have her father there for her school graduations or wedding.
D’Elia and Assistant Prosecutor Fabrice Charles presented the state’s case during the six-week trial.
Hoey was shot around 1:30 a.m. Sept. 1, 2014 outside the Belcourt Townhouses at Hidden Lake apartment complex, where the two men were next-door neighbors.
Amos was arrested following a monthlong investigation by North Brunswick Detective Robert Powell and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Gregory Morris.
In addition to murder, Amos was found guilty of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and hindering his own apprehension.
He also was convicted of being a certain person prohibited from having a weapon because he had previously been convicted in an unrelated criminal case.
Original post http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/2017/05/08/north-brunswick-man-gets-80-years-neighbors-murder/312519001/
