Prosecutors: Try Teens Charged in Autumn Pasquale's Murder as Adults
The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office will ask a judge to waive the brothers to adult court.
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Prosecutors want to try two teenage brothers as adults in the slaying of a 12-year-old Clayton girl.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday it will file a motion in the Family Division of state Superior Court in Woodbury asking a judge to waive the brothers, ages 15 and 17, to adult court, where they would face more serious punishment if convicted.
The are charged with murder in the slaying of Autumn Pasquale, a Clayton, Gloucester County girl whose body was found Oct. 22 in a recycling bin.
Prosecutors alleged the brothers lured the girl into their home with the promise of parts for her BMX Odyssey bicycle, which she had been riding when she left her West High Street home around 12:30 on Oct. 20, and then strangled her. Prosecutors have not released a motive for the slaying, nor have they identified the brothers because of their ages.
However, they have been widely identified elsewhere as Justin Robinson, 15, and Dante Robinson, 17, both Clayton residents.
They are being held separately at the Camden County Juvenile Detention Center at Lakeland in Gloucester Township.
Once the prosecutor's application is filed, it will be heard by Superior Court Judge Colleen A. Maier.
“It is the state’s position, based upon the gravity of the juveniles actions in causing the death of Autumn Pasquale, that these cases should be heard in adult court,” said Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton.
In addition to murder, the brothers also are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, illegally disposing of a body, tampering with evidence, and theft. Justin Robinson also is charged with luring.
If they're convicted as adults of Pasquale's murder, the brother would a face a minimum sentence of 30 years in state prison without parole.
Dibba
6:13 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Isn't one of them mentally challenged? I would think that would make trying them as adults, at least that one, more difficlut
Lauren Burgoon
6:42 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
One of the suspects does attend a special services high school, but I don't believe officials have released any information on a specific disability. Students at that high school have a range of special needs.
Michelle Wolfson
10:23 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I think this is the right move.
The older brother attends a school that is for students with "social and behavioral issues". I initially heard he had developmental delays, but have not seen anything anywhere to verify that. If that is the case, I agree it would make it a more difficult case.
Jim Wilson
11:59 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
If it was your daughter, you would damn well want them tried as adults! Mentally challenged!!! BS. I deal with mentally challenged children and all of them know that killing little girls is wrong!!! Don't give me that bleeding heart crap, and their poor background bull… there was two of them, even if one knew it was wrong he should have stopped the other, period. Both guilty, hang em!!!!
Michael
11:22 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Where is Rev Al Sharpton? This is obviously a race inspired hate crime!
Ric
11:27 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Kind of ironic that the only one to bring up race is a white guy - blows the stereotype thingee out of the water.
Michael
12:03 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
First, how do you know I'm white? Second, I was being facetious, as we all know that if it were 2 white teenage boys who killed a 12 year old Arfcan American girl, Rev Al would be all over it. We don't have to be white or black or hispanic to realize that.
Dibba
12:06 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Rev Al is an advocate for african americans,not white people. Perhaps one of you could take up the mantle and become the Rev Al for white people.
Michael
2:03 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
@Dibba, I thought racial equality was color blind. Also, Rev Al is not an advocate for the african american community, he is an ambulance chaser that makes himself rich by playing the race card anytime there is a tragedy that involves an african american. Big difference.
Dibba
11:48 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I wasn't talking about my personal feelings, I was just offering that up as a potential issue for prosecutors with regards to prosecuting the older boy.
Lee Rivera
12:36 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
You're absolutely right Mike but you won't see Rev Al sticking up for the little girl's rights to get justice. If the boys were the ones murdered, he would be ALL over this case like white on rice, no pun intended. He would be an overnight best friend of the family and everything! Oh wait that's only with rich people's families.
denise hampton
6:45 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
You guys talking about if it were an african american girl to get killed Rev Al Sharpton would be there but when African American lil girls are abducted killed raped it barely makes the news. Face reality. Perfect example is the lil 10 year old in Vegas missing 5 days before they even formed a search party.