2005
Media Releases:
CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA INFORMATION
July 1, 2005
Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi reported that a jury
found a Camden man guilty today of Murder, Attempted Murder and
related charges stemming from a double shooting in February 2003
in Camden, N.J.
John T. Pritchett, 28, faces up to life in prison, including 63
years and nine months without parole eligibility, now that a jury
has determined he shot and killed Roy W. Avant Jr., 40, at 7th and
Chestnut streets at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2003. After
a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes
before returning guilty verdicts for Murder, Felony Murder, Attempted
Murder, Robbery and weapons offenses.
Testimony elicited by Assistant Prosecutor Ira Slovin indicated
that Pritchett also shot a second victim, Arthur Lewis, 54, of Woodbury.
Lewis suffered three gunshot wounds and was hospitalized in critical
condition but survived. Lewis testified and identified Pritchett
as the shooter.
Pritchett, formerly of the 1300 block of Lansdowne Avenue in Camden,
has been held in lieu of $600,000 bail since the day of the shooting.
A New Jersey State Police detective who responded to the scene observed
the defendant in the area approximately two hours after the shooting,
recognized him as the subject of a fugitive warrant from an unrelated
Gloucester County drug charge, and arrested him. He was charged
in connection with the shooting three days later.
"The jury has spoken, and has spoken unequivocally: Pritchett is
a robber and a murderer," Sarubbi said. "No sentence could ever
make whole Mr. Lewis or Mr. Avant's surviving family and friends.
However, I hope they can rest easier knowing that justice has been
done."
Sarubbi commended Slovin as well as the lead detectives on the case,
Investigator Randall McNair of the Prosecutor's Office and Camden
Police Detective Kevin Tunstall.
Sentencing before Superior Court Judge Robert G. Millenky will be
scheduled in the coming weeks.
|
