Here you go - another unlicensed weapon in the hands of someone who did not go through the State Police background check, fingerprinting, waiting for the local Police Chief to personally sign the pistol permit (in addition to the required, separate Firearms ID). A three month process.

Mistrial declared as jury deadlocked on Jersey City man's murder charge

By Jonathan Lin/The Jersey Journal
March 07, 2014 at 8:52 PM

After listening to 19 witnesses over a span of four weeks, a jury could not reach a verdict on the charge that a Jersey City man murdered his neighbor in 2011 and a mistrial was declared.
The jury returned at around noon today with a "not guilty" verdict on only one of Patrick D. Powell's charges: the attempted murder of his mother, Irene Powell, 57.
While found not guilty of attempted murder and second-degree aggravated assault, Powell was found guilty of third-degree aggravated assault.

According to authorities, Powell tried to strangle his mother on May 15, 2011 about five hours before he shot and killed Robert Flagler, 69, who lived in the same multifamily building as Powell.

But Powell's mother, who got on the witness stand at one point during the trial, flatly denied her son choked her, despite telling police in a recorded statement that he had choked her.
"He didn't choke me, I remember that," she said, while being questioned by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor David Sharpe at trial.

In addition to the murder of Flagler and the attempted murder of his mother, Powell was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The jury began deliberating Tuesday afternoon after hearing testimony from Powell's mother and stepdaughter, and from forensics experts and police detectives who processed evidence from the murder scene.

Mark Bailey, Powell's defense attorney, called the jury "smart" shortly after they announced their partial verdict.

"I think they grappled with the issues, and there were a lot of issues," he said outside the courtroom. "I think the jury did their job as best as they could."

After the jury was dismissed, Superior Court Judge Lisa Rose scheduled a hearing for March 18 at 10 a.m. for discussions regarding a new trial date.

Gene Rubino, spokesman for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, said the prosecution hasn't given up, and that Powell will be tried again.

As a jury foreperson announced the jury's partial verdict to the judge today, Powell showed little emotion, with only a faint smile appearing on his face.

As Powell was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, he enthusiastically mouthed some words to his mother, who was sitting on a bench behind him, and she smiled.

Bailey said he will be requesting Powell's "immediate release."

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _murder.html#incart_river

Jersey City man charged with fatally shooting neighbor sheds shirt and sings too loudly for judge to keep him in courtroom very long

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City felon ordered to undergo psychological evaluation after being charged with murdering a neighbor and then groping a female cop was removed from court yesterday when he made his first appearance on the charges.

Patrick O. Powell, 39, of Gardner Avenue, was to appear in Central Judicial Processing court Monday, but he had become a disciplinary problem at the jail and was sent to the facility's medical unit.

He was brought to court yesterday and when placed in a holding cell by sheriff's officers, he stripped off his shirt, a court official said. Powell then began singing in the cell and could be heard in the courtroom.

"I have to go home today," Powell told the judge when he appeared the courtroom surrounded by sheriff's officers. The public defender repeatedly told him to remain silent, but Powell continued to ramble, saying at one point, "All this paperwork does not represent the type of person I am."

Powell is charged with firing a single, fatal shot to the chest of Robert Flagler, 69, on Sunday. Flagler, who lived in the same building as Powell, was pronounced dead at the Jersey City Medical Center at 6:50 p.m. that day, officials said.

Powell told responding officers he shot Flagler, the criminal complaint says, adding that cops recovered the alleged murder weapon. He was taken to a police station, where he reached between the legs of a female detective and "groped the upper inner thigh of her left leg," the complaint says.

Jersey City murder suspect faces sex charge after groping female police detective, and behavior in jail gets him sent for psychological evaluation instead of first court appearance, says assistant Hudson prosecutor

Tuesday, May 17, 2011
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City man charged with murdering a 69-year-old neighbor on Sunday has been additionally charged with groping a female police detective while at the police station, officials said.

Patrick O. Powell, 39, of Gardner Avenue, is charged with firing the fatal round that entered the chest and exited the back of Robert Flagler, a resident of the same apartment building, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said yesterday.

Powell knocked on Flagler's apartment door, "the victim answered, and almost immediately thereafter shot him in the chest," said DeFazio of the allegations. Flagler, who would have turned 70 years old today, was pronounced dead at the Jersey City Medical Center at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, officials said.

"The scenario is very disturbing and we have to, of course, ascertain if possible, what the motive for this attack was," DeFazio said. Investigators say it does not appear to have been a robbery and the victim and defendant may have had a prior dispute.

Powell told responding officers he shot Flagler, according to the criminal complaint. The officers recovered the alleged murder weapon, a semiautomatic pistol, as well as ammunition, the complaint says.

Powell was taken to the West District Police Station where he said he was willing to talk to the "blond" detective, sources said. He then reached "between the legs of the detective" and "groped the upper inner thigh of her left leg," the complaint says.

The defendant was to make his first appearance on the murder, sex and weapons charges yesterday afternoon, but he never made it to Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D'Andrea said Powell had become a disciplinary problem at the Hudson County jail in Kearny and was admitted to the medical unit there. D'Andea said Powell will undergo psychological evaluation at the jail.

The suspect has served time in prison for conspiracy to distribute drugs, state corrections officials said.

View Larger Map Man, 69, shot dead; cops to charge neighbor Monday, May 16, 2011 A 69-year-old Jersey City man was gunned down last night by a neighbor in his apartment building and the alleged killer is in custody, officials said. The victim, a resident of 5 Gardner Ave., a multi-family building, was pronounced dead at the Jersey City Medical Center at 6:50 p.m., said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, who did not know last night the exact time of the shooting. The 69-year-old was shot outside his apartment door, DeFazio said. Jersey City police followed drops of blood to the apartment of a younger man who was arrested and charged with the homicide, he said. DeFazio declined last night to identify either of the men, citing an ongoing investigation. He said the two men had been in a dispute, which investigators believe was likely the reason for the shooting. "We are going to have to see what is behind the prior dispute," DeFazio said. "That is essential to our investigation." At this point, the suspect will be charged with murder and related weapons offenses and is due to make his first appearance in court today, DeFazio said. A handgun, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered near the scene, he said. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Homicide Squad and Jersey City police are conducting the investigation, DeFazio said. CHARLES HACK