Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that the Honorable Verna G. Leath, J.S.C., sentenced Maurice Mosley, 22, of Newark to 30 years for the murder of Douglas Brown, 29, also of Newark.

On July 16, 2011 Douglas was fatally shot after he and two women were ordered out of a van and robbed in the vicinity of Orange and Gray Streets in Newark. Mosley also shot at the two women, who both escaped injury, but Brown was fatally wounded and died a few hours later at University Hospital in Newark.

Following a six-day trial in October 2012, Mosley was convicted on one count of murder, one count of felony murder, two counts attempted murder, three counts of robbery and two weapons offenses. Today, he was sentenced to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Prior to deliberations, jurors were instructed by the judge on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s newly adopted rules regarding eyewitness identification. These rules, set forth in September 2012, require judges to tell jurors before deliberation that the reliability of eyewitness identification can be diminished due to passage of time, stress, poor lighting and other factors—including when the person making the identification is of a different race than the suspect.

“In this case, the jury was convinced based on good old fashion police work and two solid eyewitness identifications, even with the more stringent rules,” said Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Guarducci who tried the case along with Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Fetterman.

Prosecutor Murray commended Assistant Prosecutors Guarducci and Fetterman for their excellent work on this case.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Maurice Mosley, 22, of Newark of murdering 29-year-old Douglas Brown, also of Newark.

On July 16, 2011 Mosley approached a van in the vicinity of Orange and Gray Streets in Newark in which two women and Brown were occupants. Mosley ordered them out of the car and robbed them. He then shot at them. The two woman escaped injury but Brown sustained fatal injuries. He died a few hours later at University Hospital in Newark.

Following a six-day trial before Honorable Verna G. Leath, J.S.C., the jury deliberated for one day before convicting Mosley on all nine counts – one count of murder, one count of felony murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery and two weapons offenses.

The case was tried by Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Guarducci and Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Fetterman.

The case was particularly significant because it was the first homicide in Essex County where the judge instructed the jury on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s newly adopted rules regarding eyewitness identification. The rules, which took effect in September, require judges to tell jurors before they begin deliberating that the reliability of eyewitness identification can be diminished because of the passage of time, stress, poor lighting and other factors, including when the person making the identification is of a different race of the suspect.

Even with the more stringent rules, Assistant Prosecutor Guarducci said, “In this case the jury was convinced based on good old fashion police work and two solid eyewitness identifications.’’

Sentencing before Judge Leath is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2013. Mosley faces 30 years to life.
Following the verdict, Mosley’s $500,000 bail was revoked by Judge Leath.

Prosecutor Murray commended Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective John J. Cosgrove and Newark Police Detective Pablo Gonzalez for their work on this case.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio announced today that Maurice Mosley, 19, of Newark was arrested at 10:55 a.m. today for the murder of Douglas Brown, 29, also of Newark.

On July 16, 2011 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Brown was fatally shot during a robbery at Orange and Gray Streets in Newark.

Today, Mosley was arrested without incident at 23 North 11th Street. The arrest was made by the U.S. Marshals and the Newark Fugitive Apprehension Team.

“Since the murder of 29-year-old Douglas Brown on July 16, the Essex County Homicide Task Force has been vigorously following several leads gathered through their investigation and others offered anonymously. The gathered facts pointed to the suspect arrested today, 19-year-old Maurice Mosley. The Newark Fugitive Apprehension Team and the U.S. Marshals tracked Mosley to a North 11th Street address where he was arrested without incident. I commend the entire task force for their commitment and dedication as we remove yet another dangerous criminal from our city streets,” said Police Director Samuel DeMaio.

The homicide was investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force. Detectives from the Task Force developed information that led to the issuance of arrest warrants charging Mosley with murder, felony murder, robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Bail has been set at $1 million by the Honorable Michael A. Petrolle, Judge of the Superior Court.

The suspect is being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending his arraignment later this week.

These are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.