Acquitted – Stabbing 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault

Aggrevated Assault

On June 6, 2020, a fight broke out between the defendant, F.H., and the victim, D.H., while inside the kitchen of their shared residence in Jersey City. During the fight, F.H. was alleged to have plunged a 6 inch long knife into the neck of F.H. which severed his carotid artery and jugular vein and caused acute blood loss and anoxic brain injury. Paramedics and police responded to the scene and found the victim unconscious but were able to revive him. Inside the residence, police found the kitchen covered in blood and recovered the blood soaked knife.  As part of their investigation, detectives interviewed the other residents who overheard and witnessed part of the fight. Investigators were also able to collect footage which showed the victim bleeding from the neck and losing consciousness as well as the defendant, F.H., covered in blood fleeing from the house.

Police were unable to find F.H. since he had fled before their arrival. Based on their findings, they filed a warrant for F.H.’s arrest on 2nd degree aggravated assault. The charges carried a mandatory period of 5-10 years in state prison with 85% parole disqualifier. F.H. was later picked up on the warrant out-of-state and extradited back to New Jersey to stand trial.

At the time of trial, William A. Proetta, Esq. argued to the jury that F.H. was acting with self-defense when he stabbed D.H. in the neck and had only fled the scene prior police arrival because he was scared of possible retaliation by D.H. and for being blamed by the police for something he didn’t do. Ultimately, the jury agreed with Mr. Proetta’s arguments and, after a short deliberation, the jury found F.H. not guilty of all charges.