Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Jamil Kollie, 19, of Newark of first degree robbery and weapons offenses following a trial before the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, J.S.C.
On January 19, 2011, Kollie pointed a gun at a man on the corner of Schley Street and Chancellor Avenue in Newark and demanded his money.
The victim had only $12 at the time. Kollie told the victim that he needed more money and threatened to shoot his knees off. The victim agreed to go to a nearby store to use its ATM machine for more cash. Kollie then demanded the man’s car keys and threatened to take the car if the man didn’t return. Once inside the store, the victim used his cell phone to call 911. When the victim had not returned, Kollie fled the scene in the victim’s car with an unidentified male as the driver.
The jury deliberated for four hours before returning a guilty verdict this afternoon.
Assistant Prosecutor Brian Matthews, who tried the case, said while the defendant committed robbery as a juvenile, he was tried as an adult because of the seriousness of the crime.
“This conviction is a clear statement that this sort of conduct will not be tolerated,” Matthews said. “The guilty verdict also provides a measure of peace to the victim.”
Kollie will be sentenced on January 25, 2013.
