Felony Murder Trial Continues in Monmouth County
Andre Dennis, 24, is currently on trial for murder in Monmouth County Superior Court. Dennis is on trial for the alleged shooting of an Asbury Park man on New Year's Eve 2005. A co-conspirator, Angela Pizzarelli, a 27-year-old Hazlet woman, was already tried and convicted of felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, armed robbery, conspiracy, and weapons offenses for this 2005 incident. However, Dennis can also be legally responsible for the killing under the legal doctrine of felony murder. For additional information on this murder trial, see "Felony Murder Trial in Monmouth County Superior Court".
Felony murder is a legal doctrine which holds all perpetrators responsible for any deaths caused during the commission of the felony. The typical predicate or underlying felonies which lead to felony murder charges if someone is killed are: burglary, arson, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and sodomy. However, if a co-felon or co-conspirator dies during the commission of a felony, the defendant may not necessarily be charged with felony murder.
In this case, Andre Dennis was allegedly a co-conspirator in an armed robbery in which one of the victims was killed during the commission of the robbery. Therefore, even if Dennis did not pull the trigger himself and even if Dennis did not intend or want anyone to die, he is guilty of murder based on the felony murder doctrine.
I hope the one that commited the murder does not get off on a technicality????