February 9, 2001
Trenton,
NJ — A city man who allegedly shot his victim in the back of the head with a
sawed-off shotgun was indicted today on murder charges, Mercer County Prosecutor
Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.
Luther
Thomas (DOB 10/29/75), of the 1800 block of Chestnut Avenue in Trenton, was
charged in a multi-count indictment in the death of Jermaine Stephenson, 26, of
the first block of Ellsworth Avenue in Trenton.
The murder occurred on May 25, 2000.
If convicted, Thomas could be sentenced to life in prison, required to
spend at least 30 years in prison without parole, Giaquinto said.
The
incident took place about 3:05 p.m. in the area of the 100 block of Hoffman
Avenue in Trenton. A drug deal was
allegedly taking place between Stephenson and Thomas when the defendant pulled
out a sawed-off shotgun. When the
victim turned to run, the defendant shot him in the back of the head.
In
addition to the murder charges, Thomas was indicted on charges of robbery,
possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a sawed-off
shotgun and certain persons not to possess a firearm.
Assistant
Prosecutor Kimberly Lacken presented the case to the grand jury.
Despite
having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.