A Paterson NJ man has been arrested and charged withsecond degree manslaughter after allegedly punching another man in the face during a fistfight. The injured man died a week later in the hospital.
According to the Passaic County prosecutor, 40-year-old Charles Peeples is accused of causing the death of 46-year-old Michael Davis.
Mr. Peeples and Mr. Davis got into a verbal dispute on August 3. According to authorities, the dispute escalated into a physical altercation, with Mr. Peeples striking Mr. Davis in the face and knocking him unconscious.
Mr. Davis was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center for treatment. He died a week later.
Mr. Peeples’ attorney claims that his client did not start the fight and that he simply threw one (1) punch in self-defense. According to Mr. Peeples’ attorney, the entire incident was captured on a nearby surveillance camera.
In New Jersey, manslaughter is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4. The statute stipulates that criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter when it is committed recklessly. If Mr. Peeples is convicted of second degree manslaughter, he could be sentenced to up to ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison.
Mr. Peeples was being held at the Passaic County Jail on $200,000.00 bail.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Manslaughter or Self-Defense: Paterson Man Charged in Death of Fistfight Opponent.”
