Driver gets 19 years in death of Millville officer

Submitted by Jeffrey Hark, attorney representing Timothy Seidel BRIDGETON – The mother of a Millville police officer killed in a violent crash two years ago told a packed courtroom Friday the driver responsible took away a son, father, husband and “a police officer who really did want to help.” Superior Court Judge Robert Malestein sentenced…

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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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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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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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Had it not been for my lawyer I would be free…or not!

What constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark This blog considers State v. Palacios, decided July 3, 2014 by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division and addresses the question of how other evidence is used to fill in the blanks when a defendant claims memory loss of…

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