Latonia Bellamy

Case record: Latonia Bellamy

Status

Latonia Bellamy was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison on February 8, 2013. Bellamy must spend 93 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Timeline

• February 8, 2013 — Bellamy was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison.
• June 22, 2012 — A jury convicted Bellamy of felony murder, carjacking, robbery, and weapons offenses.
• June 21, 2012 — Closing statements were heard; Bellamy’s testimony and inconsistencies with her videotaped statement were discussed.
• June 20, 2012 — Bellamy testified that she “didn’t shoot anyone” and that she acted out of fear.
• June 19, 2012 — Bellamy testified in her murder trial.
• April 9, 2010 — Three teens were arrested in connection with the execution-style slayings.
• April 5, 2010 — News coverage described the Jersey City couple slain after returning from their engagement party.
• April 4, 2010 — Nia Haqq and Michael Muchioki were murdered execution-style in front of their Randolph Avenue home during a robbery and carjacking.
• March 27, 2010 — Shiquan Bellamy was charged in the murder of Lamonte Wright, 20, of Woodlawn Avenue.
• February 2, 2010 — Shiquan Bellamy was charged in the murders of Lester Thompson, 26, and Mileak Richardson, 17, both of Van Nostrand Avenue.

Background

Latonia Bellamy was a 21-year-old woman from Jersey City.

Nia Haqq, 25, and Michael Muchioki, 27, were killed in Jersey City after returning home from their engagement party. Their engagement party included events at a soul food restaurant in New Brunswick and a larger gathering at a club and lounge in Middlesex County. The couple planned to marry next April.

The offence

On April 4, 2010, Nia Haqq and Michael Muchioki were murdered execution-style in front of their Randolph Avenue home during a robbery and carjacking.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said each victim had been shot twice, each once in the head. Muchioki suffered a shotgun blast to the back of the head. Haqq was shot in the back of the head with a pistol.

Authorities believed the couple were approached by three carjackers—described as a man and two women—after they parked, and that an anti-theft device prevented the car from being easily moved. Investigators said the carjackers left in a gold Pontiac Grand Am.

The killers stole gift cards the couple had received at the party, along with cell phones and Haqq’s engagement ring. Muchioki and Haqq were found dead near Haqq’s vehicle.

Investigation and arrests

Three people were arrested in connection with the execution-style slayings announced on April 9, 2010: Darmelia Lawrence, Latonia Bellamy, and Shiquan Bellamy.

Darmelia Lawrence was charged with felony murder, armed robbery, and weapons counts in the shooting deaths of Michael Muchioki, 27, and Nia Haqq, 25. Lawrence was described as seeking to provide an alibi for her brother after his February arrest, and she was 19.

Latonia Bellamy and Shiquan Bellamy were described as 19 and from Jersey City. Authorities said Shiquan Bellamy had been in custody since Tuesday, when he was picked up for questioning in the killings and was found to have drugs, a violation of his parole from an earlier drug case.

Shiquan Bellamy was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bail, while Lawrence and Latonia Bellamy were each ordered held on $1 million bail.

Authorities said Shiquan Bellamy’s arrest, forensic evidence, and phone records led to a break in the case and charges against the teens.

Charges and co-defendants

Latonia Bellamy was charged with murdering Nia Haqq and with felony murder of Michael Muchioki, along with robbery and carjacking. She was also found guilty of four weapons offenses.

Shiquan Bellamy was charged with killing five people over a two-month period, and was awaiting trial in the Bellamy case.

Darmelia Lawrence had pleaded guilt to four counts of armed robbery in connection with four homicides, and agreed to testify against Shiquan Bellamy.

A quote reflecting the prosecution framing was included during the arrest and pretrial period, with comments attributed to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

Trial

Jury deliberations and verdict

A jury in Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City deliberated less than a full day before finding Latonia Bellamy guilty of murdering Haqq, the felony murder of Haqq and Muchioki, robbery, carjacking, and four weapons offenses.

Bellamy showed no emotion when the verdict was rendered.

Bellamy’s testimony and videotaped statements

Latonia Bellamy testified that she feared Shiquan Bellamy would kill her if she seemed opposed to the killing and robbery. She said she only took a cut of the proceeds because “I was afraid he would kill me if I didn’t. He would think I was going to police.”

Bellamy testified that she and the other defendants took a walk with the weapons and, when they saw the couple unloading gifts from their vehicle, Shiquan Bellamy ordered the couple to the ground and fired a shotgun at Muchioki’s head.

Bellamy testified that Shiquan Bellamy told her:

“ ‘You want to shoot a gun? Shoot the f gun.’ ”

Bellamy testified that she “was paralyzed” with fear and fired the 9mm handgun at the ground “away from them.”

Bellamy testified that the three got into the couple’s vehicle but could not steal it because of a steering lock, and they fled.

Bellamy said she “didn’t shoot anyone” and she was only there because she feared for her life.

Under cross-examination, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D’Andrea questioned Bellamy about inconsistencies between her testimony and her earlier videotaped statement to police. Prosecutors pressed her with a question about whether she was lying. Bellamy responded:

“I was lying then.”

Bellamy said inconsistencies were due to her being tired when interviewed by homicide detectives and she wanted to complete the process. She said she had voluntarily gone to speak to investigators to tell the truth about what happened.

During the trial, Bellamy testified she had fired a gun at the scene but not toward the victims. This testimony was described as contradicting her videotaped statement in which she said her shots might have struck the victims.

The videotaped statement described her belief that she fired once into the air and once at the ground, and finally that she shot twice toward the ground and the bullets may have struck the victims. In that statement, she admitted she accepted $40 in robbery proceeds and that the defendants got into the victims’ vehicle but could not steal it due to a steering wheel lock.

Prosecutor’s closing framing

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D’Andrea acknowledged that Bellamy might not have fired the first shot, but told the jury she “finished the job,” in Haqq’s death.

D’Andrea also argued that a handgun shot trajectory sequence supported that Bellamy fired one round that struck Haqq in the head, a second round that struck Muchioki’s buttocks, and a third that missed. He discussed the shotgun recovered at Shiquan Bellamy’s home and the number of cartridges it held.

D’Andrea argued:

“Know where that (third) round was? It was used to shoot Mike,”

and:

“We know the (handgun) shots where 'pop, pop, pop' . . . She finished the job.”

Defense closing

Defense attorney John Elefthrow asked the jury:

“Is this a case about who did it, or is this case about who didn't do it? This is a case of her being brought into something in which she had neither the mental state nor a reason to be a part of . . . She has to have the intent, the shared intent, and she did not.”

Elefthrow reminded the jury that on April 9, 2010 Bellamy spoke to detectives voluntarily and told them that Shiquan Bellamy and Darmelia Lawrence were involved, that she fired the handgun at the scene, and where Shiquan Bellamy dumped the proceeds from the robbery. Elefthrow said:

“She told her side,” and: “If she wanted to lie, she wanted to make something up, she would have never said 'I had a gun.' ”

Character witnesses

Four character witnesses testified that Bellamy had a reputation for honesty, and the defense rested after calling them.

During deliberations, the jury asked to be recharged on the law regarding “accomplice liability” as it related to the charges of murder, felony murder, carjacking and robbery. Judge Paul DePascale recharged the jury and they returned to deliberation.

The jury also asked for a readback of portions of Bellamy’s testimony while on the stand, and ordered lunch.

Sentencing

Bellamy was sentenced on February 8, 2013 by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale. The judge made remarks describing the act as “deviant and senseless” and stated that Bellamy did not possess normal impulse control and was capable of extreme violence, and if released it was highly likely she would offend again.

Judge DePascale said:

“I have never before been exposed to such a deviant and senseless act,”

and:

“This defendant does not possess normal impulse control and is capable of extreme violence and if released, it is highly likely she will offend again,”

Bellamy stood with her hands cuffed to a leather strap around her waist.

DePascale also heard statements from prosecutors and family members.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D’Andrea told DePascale that for Bellamy, dying in prison was:

“Is much better then she deserves and I wish her a long life in prison. ... There is no remorse, there is nothing except the blood of two young people on her hands.”

Victims’ family statements

Muchioki’s mother, Sandra Muchioki, spoke at the sentencing hearing and described the victims’ lives and engagement.

Sandra Muchioki said:

“The went to school, established careers, they found each other, they got engaged, they were looking for where to getting married,”

and:

“One night that was stolen from them, from their families, from their friends. The impact of that is impossible to express.”

Hussein Haqq spoke to DePascale of his murdered niece.

Hussein Haqq said:

“I just hope that you take into your consideration that hundreds, thousands of people's lives have changed because of her actions,”

and:

“My niece was doing an awesome job of being a decent citizen of these United States. ... They took her life because of mere stupidity.”

Bellamy’s statements at sentencing and earlier appearances

At the sentencing hearing attended by about 30 of the victims’ family members and friends, Bellamy apologized but also maintained her innocence.

Bellamy told Hudson County Prosecutor Michael D’Andrea:

“There is no hard feelings, even though you and the jury have convicted the wrong person.”

Bellamy said the media portrayed her as a monster, but she described herself as an honest person with dreams of getting an education, becoming a social worker, and counseling troubled youths:

“she is really an honest person who had dreams of getting an education, becoming a social worker and counseling troubled youths.”

Parole eligibility

Bellamy became eligible for parole in the year 2106.

Bellamy was described as needing to spend 93 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.