Nadiyah Venable

Case record: Nadiyah Venable

Status

On September 27, 2013, Nadiyah Venable was sentenced to 55 years in prison with no parole for 47 years.

Background

Nadiyah Venable was 23 when she was sentenced on September 27, 2013. She had been described as an ex-girlfriend from Irvington.

The victim, Sha-Ron Moens, was 29. Moens had three children. Her children were living with family members after the killing. Moens had a 10-year-old daughter and sons ages 3 and 6. The children were at home during the attack. Moens’ 13-year-old daughter identified Venable as one of the women who broke into her apartment during the attack.

Moens was married to Kenny Jones, 39. Jones had two sons with Moens, and Moens also had a daughter by another man. Jones reported he had broken off his relationship with Venable in recent weeks to return to Moens and their children.

Venable was six months pregnant at the time of the May 15, 2010 attack, and she was angry that her boyfriend had decided to call off their relationship to reunite with Moens.

Venable planned the attack with a cousin, Aliyah Venable, who was 15 at the time of the May 15, 2010 killing.

The offence

Sha-Ron Moens was fatally stabbed at her home on Mount Prospect Avenue in Newark. The killing occurred around 12:30 p.m. on May 15, 2010, and she was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m. at University Hospital in Newark.

Venable confronted Moens in Moens’ Newark home after Venable found out that her boyfriend had decided to call off their relationship to reunite with Moens. Prosecutors said Venable and her cousin formed a plan to beat up Moens on a Saturday afternoon in May 2010. Investigators said Venable and her cousin brought bleach in small spice containers.

Venable threw bleach in Moens’ eyes. A witness testified that bleach was splashed in Moens’ face, blinding her. The bleach also splashed onto Moens’ 10-year-old daughter. As Moens fell backward, prosecutors said Venable began punching her with fists.

A knife was taken from the kitchen and used to stab Sha-Ron Moens over and over with the children still in the house.

A neighbor testified about the scene as Moens lay dying. The dying woman’s 3-year-old son ran over to her with a towel and said:

“I have to clean up Mommy”

During the attack, Moens’ daughter ran for help and did not witness the stabbing. Prosecutors said the younger sons remained inside the apartment and tried to clean blood off their mother with towels when police arrived. Police say the boys were standing next to the body when EMTs arrived.

Investigation

During the investigation, prosecutors said Venable threw a liquid substance in the victim’s face, which Kenny Jones described as bleach. Police officers took Venable into custody after looking for an unidentified male who accompanied her to the apartment in her Ford Explorer, which authorities said Venable reported stolen in East Orange the next morning.

In a statement played for jurors, Venable said Moens grabbed a knife from the kitchen to defend herself and then was stabbed by Aliyah Venable.

Venable made statements to police the day after the slaying. In those statements, Venable claimed that she and her cousin went to the apartment to “rough up” Moens. She also initially told detectives she had gone to Moens’ apartment with a man, but later admitted the attacker was her cousin.

The defence argued that Aliyah Venable was the one who threw the bleach, beat Moens with brass knuckles, and stabbed her to death, and that Venable was instead the person who went to collect money.

Defense attorney William Strazza said:

“The question is who stabbed who. I submit (the cousin) knocked on the door, threw the bleach and committed the murder and then pleaded guilty to conspiracy in exchange for having the other charges dismissed,”

Strazza also told jurors:

“He said the prosecution set their sights on Venable from the beginning and never backed down even when the evidence didn't fit.”

Arrest

On May 16, 2010, Nadiyah Venable was arrested in the stabbing death of Sha-Ron Moens after reporting to police that her SUV had been stolen, officials said.

Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s office, said Venable went to East Orange Police headquarters to report the theft of her green Ford Explorer. Investigators had been looking for the vehicle in connection with the stabbing, Carter said. Venable was transported to Newark Police headquarters for processing.

Trial

Charges and prosecution

Venable faced charges connected to the fatal stabbing, including murder, burglary, conspiracy, felony murder, and weapons charges.

Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande delivered the opening statement. Deshpande said Venable was angry that Kenny Jones had gotten back together with Moens, and prosecutors said Venable formed a plan along with her then-15-year-old cousin to beat up Moens that afternoon. Deshpande said Venable splashed bleach in Moens’ face when Moens came to the door, and the bleach splashed onto Moens’ daughter.

Deshpande said that as the fight moved into the apartment, the daughter, drenched in bleach, ran out of the house and to a nearby travel agency where she called 9-1-1. Deshpande said a knife was taken from the kitchen and used to stab Sha-Ron Moens over and over with the children still in the house.

Assistant prosecutors Purva Deshpande and Cynthia Teller prosecuted the case.

Defence

Venable testified in her own defense and shifted blame to her cousin, Aliyah Venable, who accompanied her to the Mount Prospect Avenue home for the May 15, 2010 attack.

Venable claimed Aliyah Venable threw bleach in Moens’ face, beat her with brass knuckles, and then stabbed her to death. Venable also claimed that Moens tried to attack her with a knife.

The defence argued in the trial that it was Aliyah Venable who carried out the stabbing. Strazza argued that Venable was blamed for a crime committed by her cousin.

Witness testimony

The trial included testimony from Moens’ now 13-year-old daughter. The girl was 10 when she answered the door of her apartment on May 15, 2010, the day before Mother’s Day. She testified that she recognized Venable outside next to a woman she did not know. She said the second woman retrieved a plastic spice bottle and splashed bleach in Moens’ face, blinding her. She testified that as Moens fell backward, Venable began punching her with fists, and Moens said:

“No, stop I have three kids,”

The girl testified she ran to get help at a local doctor’s office and called 911. She did not witness the stabbing.

The girl testified about her brothers during testimony. Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande asked:

“What did you notice about your brothers?”

The girl said:

“They were crying,”
“and they had blood on the bottom of their feet.”

Verdict and deliberation

On June 27, an Essex County jury deliberated for two hours before finding Venable guilty of murder, burglary and weapons charges. The verdict included multiple convictions: burglary, conspiracy, murder, felony murder and weapons charges. The combined verdict meant Venable faced 30 years to life in prison when sentenced.

Defense attorney Bill Strazza said he and Venable respected the verdict and were considering an appeal.

Purva Deshpande said the verdict brought relief to the grieving family, and she said:

“They've been waiting for this day for more than three years and I think they feel they really got justice. Of course they're going to grieve forever but hopefully they can put this aspect of the tragedy behind them.”

Additional related proceedings involving Aliyah Venable

Aliyah Venable pleaded guilty to conspiracy in juvenile court and had all other charges dismissed. The trial testimony included that Aliyah Venable testified and provided a statement in exchange for her plea in juvenile court.

According to testimony, Aliyah Venable said in a statement provided in exchange for her plea in juvenile court that Nadiyah stabbed Moens.

In addition, the June 11, 2013 reporting said Aliyah Venable pleaded guilty in juvenile court and then moved to North Carolina, where she was subsequently charged with a robbery.

Sentencing

On September 27, 2013, Superior Court Judge Sherry Hutchins-Henderson sentenced Nadiyah Venable to 55 years in prison with no parole for 47 years.

Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande said:

“Nothing can erase what those children witnessed in this savage attack, but this sentence sends a clear message that committing such a violent and senseless crime will not be tolerated,”

Timeline

• May 17, 2010 — Nadiyah Venable was charged with murder, burglary and weapons offenses in the stabbing of Sha-Ron Moens.
• May 15, 2010 — Sha-Ron Moens was found stabbed to death in the Mount Prospect Avenue apartment around 12:30 p.m. after bleach was thrown in her face and she was stabbed while her children were present.
• May 16, 2010 — Nadiyah Venable was arrested after reporting her Ford Explorer theft at East Orange Police headquarters.
• June 11, 2013 — Trial coverage described the prosecution’s opening statement and the planned “rough up” account.
• June 12, 2013 — Nadiyah Venable’s murder trial continued with evidence of the planned “rough her up” attack.
• June 13, 2013 — Moens’ 13-year-old daughter testified at Venable’s murder trial.
• June 27, 2013 — An Essex County jury found Venable guilty of murder, burglary and weapons charges after deliberating for two hours.
• September 27, 2013 — Superior Court Judge Sherry Hutchins-Henderson sentenced Venable to 55 years in prison with no parole for 47 years.

Outcome

Venable was found guilty of murder, burglary and weapons charges following a three-week trial.

She was sentenced to 55 years in prison with no parole for 47 years on September 27, 2013.

Other details

During trial proceedings, Moens’ grandmother wrote a letter read by Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande. She said:

“Sha-Ron was a good girl and she loved her three children,”

Moens’ grandmother added:

“The boys still miss her.”

Moens’ 3-year-old son’s statement to a neighbor during the attack was:

Moens’ daughter at trial requested her name not be used, and she testified in Newark courtroom while officers escorted Venable past the defense table.

Venable was described as having wept openly and not reacting to the multiple convictions when the verdict was announced. Moens’ family members raised their heads toward the ceiling, crying and smiling, and some crossed themselves.

Churchman Funeral Home handled arrangements for Moens. Visiting was scheduled from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a 9 a.m. service at Churchman’s and burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside on Friday.