Man Convicted of Attempted Murder in Lakewood Loses Appeal of 20 year Sentence

stabbing-scene-picOn Thursday, May 19, the Appellate Division, following the defendant’s appeal, affirmed the attempted murder jury verdict convicting a man of attempted murder in Lakewood.

Assistant Deputy Public Defender Amira Scurato appealed on behalf of the defendant, Robert H. Hankins and Chief of the Appellate Unit, Samuel J. Marzarella and Assistant Prosecutor John C. Tassini represented the State on the appeal.

The case was presented by Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Ehsan F. Chowdhry at the trial level. The defendant was represented by Assistant Deputy Public Defender Michael G. Vito. The Honorable Wendel E. Daniels, P.J.Cr. presided over the trial. Multiple agencies assisted in the prosecution of this matter, including the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, the New Jersey State Police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. The lead detective was Detective Thomas Tiernan of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Monica Schuler of Victim Witness provided key assistance. The jury deliberated very briefly before it voted unanimously to convict the Toms River man of first-degree attempted murder in an incident in which the defendant slashed a woman’s throat on New Year’s Eve 2011.

At 11:53 p.m. that night, Hankins approached Sasso, pulled out a knife, and slit her throat. Hankins then went outside the building and slit his own throat. Both Hankins and Sasso were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Both survived. Sasso’s anterior jugular vein was severed. She has not worked since the attack, and still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Robert H. Hankins, 65, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted. He must serve 85% percent, or approximately 17 years, under the State’s No Early Release Act. The appellate division judges remanded for resentencing clarification.

[TLS]

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.