Plea Deal Grieves Murder Victim’s Family

COURT HOUSE – The family of Khalil Wallace, a 19-year-old Rowan University student murdered in 2011, has never heard two men charged with his murder say they were “guilty,” despite plea bargains agreed to April 13. That’s because they claim a request for a 24-hour delay so Wallace’s mother and other family members could be in the courtroom was denied.
Millville residents Andre Gross and Norman Gray entered guilty pleas April 13 in Superior Court to charges of aggravated manslaughter and illegal disposal of a body in connection with the slaying of Woodbine resident Wallace. The two were to begin a jury trial on the day they entered their pleas.
“We never heard them say they were guilty,” said Wallace’s aunt, Angela Hawkins, who lives in Trenton and grew up in Cape May County. “We had been in the courtroom throughout three years of torture, and we were told that this would be a day for jury selection.
“Everyone knew my sister and her family were on a well-deserved break before having to endure a trial,” Hawkins continued. “She was due back in town that evening and when she got the call from the prosecutor’s office about the plea bargain, she didn’t agree to it, and asked for them to postpone for just 24 hours so she could be there in person. We were there every step of the way, but I just don’t understand why they couldn’t wait for us just one more day so we could be in the courtroom.”
Because they weren’t in court and did not hear anyone say “guilty,” Hawkins said the family “isn’t getting any closure” on her nephew’s murder. “The family is very heartbroken over this and we want to believe in the court process, but it did not work for us. We are the victims here. I know no years in jail would be enough and will not bring back Khalil, but the process failed us. We didn’t get to say goodbye to Khalil; he didn’t get any justice.
“They knew my sister had planned this trip and would be back that evening, but they wouldn’t wait,” she continued. “I don’t understand why they had to rush. We often traveled two hours only to arrive in court, wait and be told of a postponement for one reason or another. Nothing had changed in terms of evidence over three years, so I just don’t understand.”
According to Cape May County First Assistant Prosecutor Robert Johnson, he did request a 24-hour postponement that was denied. “The family knew that this was the beginning of the trial with jury selection and the judge had given notice to all sides that there would be some discussion going on.
“Over the three or four years we had been working on this case,” Johnson continued, “the family had many opportunities to express to me how they felt. I did speak to the family about the plea bargain and let the judge know they were unhappy.
“But in the end, the prosecutor’s role is to do justice,” he added. “Sometimes justice coincides with the family’s wishes, but not always.”
According to Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, Gross and Gray face a sentence of 20 years on the aggravated manslaughter charge and three years for illegally disposing of a body. They must serve 85 percent of their sentences prior to release, pursuant to the No Early Release law.
“Eighty-five percent,” Hawkins said referring to the amount they must serve prior to release. “That’s about 19 years in jail. My 2-year-old son will be walking the streets with them.”
The two Millville men were indicted by a Cape May County grand jury in a 17-count indictment June 26, 2012. In addition to murder charges, Gross and Gray were charged with kidnapping, armed robbery and gang criminality, all first-degree offenses. They also were charged with luring an adult victim into a vehicle and various weapons offenses including unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. They also were charged with desecrating, moving, or concealing a human body.
At the time of the indictment, Johnson was quoted as saying the charges against Gross and Gray could result in prison sentences of 30 years to life.
Wallace’s body was found Oct. 6, 2011, in a Downe Township lake. Positive identification was made through fingerprints. Wallace was last seen the afternoon of Sept. 20, 2011, outside a Dollar Plus store on Washington Avenue, Woodbine. He was reported missing by family members Sept. 22, 2011.
“What value does life have?” Hawkins asked. “They did not plea bargain to murder, they plea bargained for manslaughter.”
Johnson said that Cape May County sees about “four or five homicide cases a year, including vehicular. About 99 percent of them are resolved by plea bargaining.”
Wallace, the father of an infant daughter at the time of his death, was a standout athlete at Millville High School and Rowan University. “He was the life of a party,” his aunt said fondly. “Khalil was popular, fun and loved his family. He had just recently become a father a few months before he passed.
“Is this justice?” she asked about the plea bargain. “Why should they get a deal? It seems the only criminal justice that Cape May County gives out is for the criminals.
“For now, I just want people to know that these plea bargains are happening,” Hawkins added. “I don’t know why, but we are not satisfied.”
Johnson said sentencing is set for June 10.
“The right for the family to address defendants comes at sentencing,” Johnson said.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
For previous coverage, go to:
– Two Plead Guilty In Wallace Murder: http://goo.gl/POYghE