According to authorities, a 19 year-old from Lodi was arrested and charged with murder on Monday. Police responded to a 911 call around 12:20 that a woman named Divna Rosasco was missing. About an hour later, officers discovered her SUV miles away at Overpeck County park where a police dog tracked a scent to the end of the dock. Rosasco’s body was found submerged under water and she had been stabbed to death and weighted down with cinder blocks and duct tape.
According to an arrest affidavit, an early morning argument between a 14 year-old girl and her father’s wife, the victim, had led to her allegedly being pushed down the stairs and stabbed to death by 19 year-old Nicolas Coirazza. Bergen County Prosecutor had said that Coirazza was known to the family, but did not specify how. Police also allege that the 14 year-old girl assisted Coirazza in disposing of the body. Coirazza was charged with murder, weapons offenses, evidence tampering among other charges. The 14 year-old girl was charged with juvenile offenses. Coirazza is being held in Bergen County Jail. Click here to read more at www.nj.com.
The charge of murder is the most serious in the criminal code of New Jersey. Murder is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, which provides:
Criminal homicide constitutes murder when:
- The actor purposely causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death; or
- The actor knowingly causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death; or
- It is committed when the actor, acting either alone or with one or more other persons, is engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape or terrorism, and in the course of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, any person causes the death of a person other than one of the participants;
Penalties for Homicide/Murder in New Jersey
Murder is a crime of the first degree A person convicted of the crime of Murder is subject to a sentence of 30 years to life, with a minimum of 30 years that must be served before the person is eligible for parole. Notably, there are a number of circumstances that will subject a person to a sentence of life without parole including:
- If the victim was a law enforcement officer and was murdered while performing his official duties or was murdered because of his status as a law enforcement officer.
- If the victim was less than 14 years old and the act was committed in the course of the commission, whether alone or with one or more persons, of an act of Sexual Assault or Criminal Sexual Contact.
If you are facing murder charges in New Jersey, your freedom is at stake. It is critical that you have an aggressive defense lawyer representing your interests and protecting your rights at all stages of the criminal process. Alissa D. Hascup will use her skills and experience to attack the State’s case, exploit its weaknesses, and put you in a position to achieve the best possible result. Contact The Law Offices of Alissa D. Hascup for a free consultation about your case. Ms. Hascup is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.
