Slain Cinnaminson Teen Gets Justice: Prosecutor

A Cinnaminson teen’s killers have all finally been brought to justice.

A Camden County jury found Peter Leonce, 21, of Astoria, NY, guilty Wednesday of murder and several other charges for his involvement in the gang-related slaying of 18-year-old Muriah Huff, of Cinnaminson, and Michael Hawkins, 23, of Mount Holly, at a Berkley Street home in Camden on Feb. 22, 2010. Leonce was the final defendant to be tried. Nine others have either been convicted or pleaded guilty, the prosecutor’s office stated.

According to authorities, Huff was brutally murdered after Hawkins’ killers worried about her being a witness to his death. She was beaten, stabbed and strangled, then buried in the backyard of the home, along with Hawkins. Leonce was found guilty of participating in her killing, including beating her with a chair.

Authorities said Hawkins was killed over disagreements with Leonce and others—who were members of the Bloods street gang—including Hawkins’ involvement with rival gang, the Crips, and other minor offenses. One of the catalysts for the assault and killing was the Bloods’ members belief that Hawkins had stolen a bottle of liquor from them.

Hawkins was beaten, gagged and bound, and placed in a bedroom closet. After additional gang members arrived, he was shot, stabbed and beaten again. Prosecutors presented evidence that Leonce was one of the initiators of Hawkins’ beating, including assaulting him with a baseball bat.

Leonce was found guilty of the following:

In Huff’s killing, he was convicted of aggravated manslaughter, criminal restraint and conspiracy to commit murder.

For Hawkins’ killing, Leonce was convicted of murder, felony murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

He was also found guilty of hindering apprehension and hindering his own apprehension.

Leonce is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 20 before Superior Court Judge Michael Kassel. He faces a life sentence on the murder charge alone.

Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk credited the conviction to the efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office investigative staff Capt. Ron Moten, Sgt. Patricia Taulane, Det. Bill Rumell and Steve Settles, and Camden County Police personnel Sgt. Janelle Simpson and Ptlm. Randy Smith.