Opening statements are expected tomorrow afternoon for the trial of a Newark man charged with killing a 12-year-old Jersey City boy who was walking home with his father on May 17, 2013.
Gywan Levine Jr., 12, of Jersey City, was killed May 17, 2013 after he was shot during a robbery on Rutgers Avenue, police said. (Journal file photo)JERSEY CITY - Opening statements are expected tomorrow in the trial of a Newark man charged with killing a 12-year-old Jersey City boy who was walking home with his father on May 17, 2013.
Farrarhd H. Gunter, 36, of Newark, is one of three people charged in the homicide of Gywan Levine Jr., who police say was fatally shot during a robbery that also left his father wounded.
Gunter faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Essex County Sheriff's Officers arrested Gunter on Aug. 24, 2013 when he allegedly tried to flee after crashing his vehicle into a taxi on Littleton Avenue in Newark shortly before 10 p.m. Police said a substantial amount of heroin and crack cocaine was found in his vehicle, officials said.
Janice S. Everett, 28, of Rahway, was charged with felony murder on May 22, 2013, and two counts of armed robbery, both in connection to the incident that claimed the life of the 12-year-old. On May 30, 2013, Shawn Harris, 36, of Irvington, was charged with felony murder, two counts of armed robbery and weapons offenses.
Gywan and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., 34, were returning from playing basketball when they were approached on Rutgers Avenue between Stevens Avenue and Wade Street at around 9:50 p.m. The fatal gunfire erupted soon after, authorities said.
The father and son were rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center where the boy died. Gywan Levine Sr. suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and survived.Hundreds attended the 12-year-old's funeral.
On Feb. 17, 2015, Harris pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery, and at sentencing, the state is expected to seek that he serve 20 years in prison with no chance of parole until after serving 17 years, Hudson Assistant Prosecutor Leo Hernandez said.
Everett pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, and at sentencing, the state is expected to seek she serve 10 years in prison with no chance of parole until after serving more than eight years, Hernandez said.
Jury selection began this morning with a pool of 99 potential jurors. The process will continue tomorrow morning with a second pool. Opening statements will likely be heard in the afternoon. Proceedings today ended just after 4 p.m. today.
Gunter's trial is before Hudson County Superior Court Judge John Young in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Gunter is represented by attorney Keith Hirschorn, while Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Leo Rinaldi is representing the state.