Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Michelet Glaude, 42, of Irvington of attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, terroristic threats and unlawful taking of a means of a conveyance. The victim was a 26-year-old woman who had previously dated Glaude.
“This was a horrific crime. No one should have to endure what the victim went through in this case,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Celeste Montesino, who tried the case. “I am very thankful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the testimony in this case. It is never easy for a victim to testify, especially in a case like this. I hope the verdict gives her some solace given what she has been through.’’
According to Assistant Prosecutor Montesino, on the evening of July 7, 2009, Glaude, who was upset over their break up, went to the home of one of the victim’s relatives looking for the victim. Glaude had previously taken the victim’s car without her consent. When he saw her in the parking lot and she refused to go with him voluntarily, he hit her in the face and head and forced her in to the vehicle.
Although he told her that he was just going to drive her home, he drove past her house and told her that he was going to kill her and himself by driving under a tractor trailer on the Belt Parkway in New York. When the victim began screaming he punched her in the head causing her to lose consciousness. While she was unconscious, the defendant committed an aggravated assault by biting through her lip and mutilating an intimate area of her body causing permanent damage.
The defendant then sped onto Rt. 78 East and crashed the vehicle into a median. After the crash the victim ran out of the car and tried to run across the highway to escape him. However, the defendant ran after her, tackled her and then threw her into the path of oncoming vehicles. Cars swerved to avoid hitting the victim. As the victim scrambled to her feet, the defendant dragged her into a wooded area on the highway. Four of the drivers who witnessed what occurred stopped and contacted the police and remained on the scene. Three of those witnesses testified at trial, Assistant Prosecutor Montesino said.
The victim was transported to University Hospital in Newark, where she was treated for the injuries to her body as well as a concussion. A blood alcohol test performed by New Jersey State Trooper Paul Palschakov indicated Glaude was below the legal limit of .08. New Jersey State Trooper Kristopher Bremer secured the scene and processed the defendant.
At trial, the defendant offered an intoxication defense, claiming he had no memory of the attack. The defendant was represented by Wanda M. Akin, Esq. of Newark.
Yesterday, an Essex County jury rejected that defense and found him guilty on all counts. The defendant is facing 30 to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced. The Honorable Peter V. Ryan, J.S.C., has scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2012.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Murray lauded the law enforcement officers who worked on this case, as well as the civilian witnesses who contacted authorities and testified at the trial. Montesino particularly praised the outstanding work of ECPO Detectives Robert Pope and Christine Witkowski who worked tirelessly over the last year to prepare this case for trial.
