Justice for Divyendu's Family

Nov 2, 2010, nj.com, Teens bragged after fatally beating Old Bridge man, authorities say

Justice For Divyendu Family — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:22:52 +0000

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/teens_bragged_about_beating_of.html

Teens bragged about fatally beating Old Bridge man, authorities say

Published: Tuesday, November 02, 2010, 8:10 AM Updated: Tuesday, November 02, 2010, 2:40 PM

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Photo Courtesy http://justicefordivyendufamily.wordpress.comDivyendu Sinha, 49, of Old Bridge, died after being attacked outside his home and five teens have been charged in his killing.

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OLD BRIDGE — Minutes after allegedly attacking an Old Bridge computer scientist out for a late-night walk with his family, two of the five teenagers charged in his fatal beating were bragging to each other about what they had done and how much they enjoyed it, authorities said.

“My hand’s definitely broken no lie. I never hit an N-word so hard,” Christopher Conway texted Julian Daley, according to a transcript of the text conversation as read by Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet. In the transcript, Kuberiet uses the phrase “n-word” rather than the actual racial epithet.

“I will but yo, tomorrow night, you down again?” Daley texted back.

File photosTop row from left, Cash Johnson, 17, and Christian Tinli, 18, and bottom row from left, Julian Daley, 16, and Chris Conway, 17 are four out of the five defendants in the Old Bridge slaying case.

Then, about a half hour later, Conway texts Daley: “LMAO (laughing my ass off) highlight of my life.”

A full transcript of the conversation between Conway, 17, and Daley, 16, was read aloud at a Sept. 17 hearing in Family Court in New Brunswick during which the two teens, along with Christian Tinli, 18, Cash Johnson, 17, and Steven Contreras, 17, were ordered to face murder charges in adult court in the death of 49-year-old Divyendu Sinha.

Superior Court Judge Jane Cantor released an audiotape of the hearing to The Star Ledger and the Home News Tribune on Friday. It was made available to the newspapers yesterday.

“Five young men … went on a wilding spree for no apparent purpose,” Kuberiet told the judge during the hearing, describing the events that occurred the night of June 25.

He said the five boys, all of whom attended Old Bridge High School, got into a car and eventually ended up on Fela Drive, where they spotted Sinha, his wife, and two sons walking in front of their home at about 11:30 p.m.

“Four of them got out of the car. One of them tapped Mr. Sinha on the shoulder and said, “I gotta talk to you,” Kuberiet said.

Then they attacked the man, beating him so severely he died four days later at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Sinha’s sons suffered minor injuries in the attack, but his wife, Alka, was uninjured.

Kuberiet said the teenagers had “their beer muscles on,” and had assaulted another motorist prior to the attack on Sinha.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet describes the attack on Sinha

http://www.nj.com/multimedia/audioplayer/player.swf

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet describes text messages sent after the attack

http://www.nj.com/multimedia/audioplayer/player.swf

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Cash Johnson apologizes in court to the family of Sinha

http://www.nj.com/multimedia/audioplayer/player.swf

He called Tinli, who was 17 at the time of the incident, “one of the prime movers and shakers,” of the attacks and told the judge it was Tinli who delivered the fatal punch to the right side of Sinha’s head.

Kuberiet said it was Conway who “pointed out” the Sinha family as the teens drove along Fela Drive, telling his friends, “hey, there’s three dudes and a (woman).”

After the teens had returned home, Conway and Daley began their text conversation, Kuberiet said.

After Daley asks if he’s “down again” for the next night, Conway, according to the Family Court transcript the prosecutor read, responds: “Yes, any N-word I see is going to get it with my left hand though cause I think I broke my knuckle on my right hand s-swollen. … I’m just saying son I can’t believe that shit was so great.”

During the September hearing, Johnson was the only one to speak on his behalf, asking Sinha’s family for forgiveness.

“I wanted to say I really apologize to the victim’s family and to the victim and I hope one day they can forgive me and see that I’m not the monster like everybody in the media says we are,” he told the family, who attended the proceedings. “And that they can find it in the bottom of their heart to forgive us.”

His attorney, William Fetky of New Brunswick, said there is no evidence Johnson took part in the attack on Sinha and that his role in the assault on Sinha’s son “is in dispute.”

“In the pecking order of these five with five being the least, Mr. Johnson was number four,” Fetky told the judge.

Mitchell Ansell, the attorney for Daley, said yesterday, “Our position is Julian Daley is not responsible for Mr. Sinha’s death,” adding he does not believe any of the text exchange between Daley and Conway implicates his client.

“Those texts cannot be viewed as any admissions by Julian Daley,” he said. “Julian Daley is not responsible for this man’s death.”

Amilcar Perez, who represents Tinli, said at the Family Court hearing that his client was a good student, a football player, a track star, and played the piano at his church.

Charles Uliano, who represents Conway, told the judge in September that Conway’s father “has coached in Old Bridge for years,” and had never been in trouble before.

Attorneys for three of the four teenagers could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The four are free on bail.

The hearing for Steven Contreras was not included in the audio recording.

Previous coverage:

• Old Bridge teens charged in slaying joked in texts sent after assault, prosecutor says

• Teens charged in beating death of Old Bridge man discussed incident in texts

• Bail is raised for teen charged in Old Bridge fatal beating after going on school property

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerSteven Contreras appears at a court hearing in September.

• Five Old Bridge High School teens accused in beating death to be tried as adults

• Five Old Bridge teens plead not guilty in beating death of township man

• First suspect in case of fatal beating of Old Bridge man pleads not guilty

• Five Old Bridge High School teens accused in beating death to be tried as adults

• Memorial is held for Old Bridge man who was fatally beaten

Nov 1, 2010, Nj.com, Teens charged in beating death of Old Bridge man discussed incident after attack

Justice For Divyendu Family — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:20:10 +0000

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/teens_charged_in_beating_death.html

Teens charged in beating death of Old Bridge man discussed incident after attack

Published: Monday, November 01, 2010, 12:48 PM Updated: Monday, November 01, 2010, 4:00 PM

Sue Epstein/The Star-Ledger
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OLD BRIDGE — Two of five Old Bridge teenagers charged in the fatal beating of a computer scientist in June discussed the attack in text messages within an hour of the actual beating, according to an audio recording of a family court hearing released today.

Julian Daley, 16, and Christopher Conway, 17, had the text conversation shortly after they returned home following the attack on Divyendu Sinha in front of his Old Bridge residence, Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet said during Sept. 17 family court hearing.

Kuberiet said Daley told Conway he thought they “hurt the victim to the point that he (Daley) could have broken his hand.”

Sinha died four days after the June 25 attack. Daley, Coney, Cash Johnson, 17, Christopher Tinli, who turned 18 in September, and Steven Contreras, 17, have been charged with murder.

The Star-Ledger obtained this morning audio recordings of the Sept. 17 family court hearings before Superior Court Judge Jane Cantor that led to all five teens being charged as adults in the case.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Cash Johnson apologizes in court to the family of Sinha

http://www.nj.com/multimedia/audioplayer/player.swf

During his hearing, Johnson addressed Sinha’s family in the courtroom and asked for their forgiveness.

“I really apologize to the victim’s family and the victim,” Johnson said. “I hope one day they can forgive me and see that I’m not a monster like everybody in the media says we are. I hope they can find it in the bottom of their heart to forgive me seriously.”

Daley, Conway, Johnson, Tinli, and Contreras allegedly stopped on Fela Drive when they saw the Sinha family out for a walk shortly after 11 p.m. on June 24, authorities said. Four of the five got out of the car and attacked Sinha and his sons, police said. Authorities said Contreras, the driver, remained in the car.

They are all charged as adults with Sinha’s murder, the assault on his 12-year-old old son, and an attack on a motorist about 10 minutes before Sinha was beaten. Sinha was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where he died four days later.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the means by which two of the teenagers discussed the attack on Sinha. Daley and Conway held the conversation electronically by text message.

Divyendu Sinha

Previous coverage:

• Bail is raised for teen charged in Old Bridge fatal beating after going on school property

• Five Old Bridge High School teens accused in beating death to be tried as adults

• Five Old Bridge teens plead not guilty in beating death of township man

• First suspect in case of fatal beating of Old Bridge man pleads not guilty

• Five Old Bridge High School teens accused in beating death to be tried as adults

• Memorial is held for Old Bridge man who was fatally beaten

Related topics: middlesex-county-prosecutor, old-bridge

About 800 people attend Vigil and Memorial Serviceheld to honor Dr. Divyendu Sinha.

Justice For Divyendu Family — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:55:01 +0000

July 18, 2010, Star Ledger, Memorial is held for Old Bridge man who was fatally beaten

July 18, 2010, Star Ledger, Photo Gallery: Hundreds attend memorial for Old Bridge man

July 18, 2010, Indian American community releases a Press Release after the Vigil and Memorial Services for Dr. Divyendu Sinha (click here for Photos)

Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office seek to try as adults

Justice For Divyendu Family — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:09:57 +0000

July 15, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office seek to try teens as adults in Old Bridge homicide

Press Release from Community on Vigil on July 18th

Justice For Divyendu Family — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:01:25 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community/Crime/Vigil

Contact:     Satya Dosapati, Sreedhar Reddy Kona
Email:         JusticeForDivyenduFamily@gmail.com
Web:         http://JusticeForDivyenduFamily.wordpress.com

Ph: 847-462-4692

New Jersey, July 14, 2010: Indian American community leaders are planning to have a vigil in memory of Dr. Divyendu Sinha who died after being brutally assaulted by five teenagers, while taking a late night stroll with his family on June 25, 2010. The vigil will be held at Old Bridge High School, 4209 Highway 516, Matawan, NJ 07747 on Sunday, July 18^th from 11AM to 2 PM.

The memorial service is expected to be attended by lawmakers and administration officials as well as community leaders from Indian American community and other communities. The tragedy brought back memories of brutal attacks against Indian Americans during 1987-1993 by gangs calling themselves dot busters. The case of another Indian American Geetha Angara, murdered in Totawa 5 years ago remains unsolved and brings fears and concerns that justice for crimes against Indian Americans are not investigated with the zeal and vigor they deserve.

There has been outpouring of support calling for justice for Dr. Divyendu family from the Indian American and immigrant communities as well as from all cross sections of society. Evidence of this can be found from the large number of visitors to the website www.JusticeForDivyenduFamily.wordpress.com. Over 8300 outraged citizens have signed a petition to the Mayor, Prosecutor, NJ Attorney General and Governor demanding that the accused be tried as adults for this unprovoked and wanton murder. Various Organizations and activists are working to provide emotional, financial and legal support to the family.

The event is organized by several Indian American community leaders and lead by activist Pradip (Peter) Kothari. It is an opportunity for the community at large to come together and demand justice for a senseless attack that took away a brilliant technocrat and professor, who was loved by his family, friends, colleagues and students.

For additional information contact Satya or Sreedhar at 847-462-4692 (email: JusticeForDivyenduFamily@gmail.com )

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Vigil announced, July 18th, 11AM to 2PM at Old Bridge High School

Justice For Divyendu Family — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:00:27 +0000

Vigil and Memorial Service for Dr. Divyendu Sinha on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at Old Bridge High School, 4209 Highway 516, Matawan, NJ 07747

New Jersey, July 14, 2010: Indian American community leaders are planning to have a vigil in memory of Dr. Divyendu Sinha who died after being brutally assaulted by five teenagers while taking a late night stroll with his family on June 25, 2010. The vigil will be held at Old Bridge High School, 4209 Highway 516, Matawan, NJ 07747 on Sunday, July 18th from 11AM to 2 PM.

The memorial services is expected to be attended by lawmakers and administration officials as well as community leaders from Indian American community and from other communities. The tragedy brought memories of brutal attacks against Indian Americans during 1987-1993 by gangs calling themselves dot busters to Indian American community. It also brought fears whether justice would be delivered given that another Indian American woman Geetha Angara who was murdered in Totowa, NJ is still waiting for justice after 5 years.

The outpouring of support calling for justice to Dr. Divyendu family from Indian American community as well as from the cross sections of society is evidenced by the number of large of visitors to website created to inform about the tragedy to community and those who signed petition in few days. Various Organizations and activists are working to provide emotional, financial and legal support to the family.

The event is organized by several Indian American community leaders with community activist Pradip (Peter) Kothari leading the effort. It is an opportunity for community to come together to show the support (for) and call for effective justice to a senseless attack that took away a brilliant technocrat who was loved by his family, friends, colleagues and students.

Community is also requested to volunteer and support this efforts. Please send your name, address, contact phone number to JusticeForDivyenduFamily@gmail.com.

For more information contact 847-462-4692 or send email to JusticeForDivyenduFamily@gmail.com or fill the form on Vigil page.

Press Release: IIT Alumni Association calls for Full Investigation into Murder of Alumnus

Justice For Divyendu Family — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:08:21 +0000

Decision yet to be made on Vigil Plans

Justice For Divyendu Family — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:14:30 +0000

Different Community Organizations have initiated plans to hold a Vigil in support of the family. Efforts are currently being made to combine all such efforts into one Vigil. This is expected to be during the weekend July 17th (either 17th or 18th).

Will update as soon as decision is made.

Another way to Contribute for the family (Tax Deductible)

Justice For Divyendu Family — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:07:36 +0000

You can also contribute to a General Fund for help the family with their expenses through VHP America. IT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

a) Go to: http://ess.vhp-america.org/dms/contribute.php
b) Under Donation Cause (right side), select ‘Donor Specified‘
c) Under Specifics say, Dr. Sinha Family General Fund.

Japanese American Citizens League writes to Prosecutor

Justice For Divyendu Family — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:45:58 +0000