Salim Newton is accused of gunning down the 22-year-old mother of his child.
Salim Newton (NJDOC photo) A little more than three years after 22-year-old Melissa Williams was found shot to death in her Phillipsburg home, a jury will hear the case against her alleged killer.
The trial of Salim Newton is scheduled to begin Monday at state Superior Court in Belvidere.
The 30-year-old faces 30 years to life imprisonment if convicted of first-degree murder. He is also charged with burglary, criminal contempt and weapons counts.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Police investigate a shooting late Sept. 18, 2013, in the 300 block of Spruce Alley in Phillipsburg. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Williams, the mother of Newton's child, was found dead after a shooting late on Sept. 18, 2013, at her Spruce Alley home. It was Phillipsburg's first homicide in more than a year.
Neighbors reported hearing at least two gunshots and seeing two people a short time later run down the alley. A gun was found later that morning nearby on Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. property, and police soon identified Newton, then 26, as a suspect.
At the time, Newton was free after posting bail on drug charges in Hunterdon County. He had reportedly been living with Williams, his girlfriend, until abruptly leaving about two weeks before her death for a residence in the 500 block of South Main Street.
U.S. Marshals tracked Newton to Richmond, Va., where he was arrested after about a month on the lam.
PRIOR PROCEEDINGS
Salim Newton appears in Warren County court in 2014. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) At least two plea offers -- one from the state and the other proposed by the defense -- have been offered since Newton's return to custody in New Jersey.
First, in August 2014, Newton rejected prosecutors' offer that would have called for a 22-year sentence if he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated manslaughter and two weapons charges.
Then, in November that year, prosecutors rejected a counteroffer in which Newton would have pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for a 5-year prison term. Without getting into specifics of the case, Newton's attorney at the time said that manslaughter generally means there was no premeditation and there may be other circumstances the jury should consider.
Newton was sentenced to a three years in prison after admitting in June 2014 to possession of heroin with intent to distribute in Hunterdon County. Corrections department records show he was released in January. He is currently in the Warren County jail.
THE TRIAL
Salim Newton's trial is scheduled to begin Monday at New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere. (Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com) Newton's trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection Monday before Judge H. Matthew Curry. County Prosecutor Richard Burke said the state hopes to have a jury and begin testimony by next week. Newton is represented by public defender Karl Keys.
Like other recent major cases, the trial is mostly expected to run Monday to Wednesday each week. The prosecution anticipates three weeks of testimony, Burke said.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.