Acting Prosecutor Robert Laurino announced today that on July 13, 2010, the Appellate Division affirmed the murder conviction and life sentence imposed on Arthur Tiggs. In June 2007, Tiggs was convicted of the April 6, 2006 murder of Lance Pettiford outside the Cave Lounge on Halsey Street in Newark, N.J.
Tiggs was attending his birthday party at the Cave Lounge. Tigg had a vision that he wanted to kill someone on his birthday. Tiggs randomly selected 28 year old Pettiford.
Pettiford was standing outside the Cave Lounge when Tiggs shot him in the head at point black range. Tiggs was convicted of murder after a four week trial before the Honorable Thomas Vena, J.S.C. Judge Vena sentenced Tiggs to life on the murder conviction.
Tiggs will be eligible for parole after serving 63 years.
Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Lucille M. Rosano handled the appeal for the State.
