Welsh Tourist’s Alleged Slayer Awaits Trial

MAYS LANDING — It’s been over three years since a Welsh tourist was murdered outside an Atlantic County nightclub. After numerous delays, his accused killer is about get a trial date.
Laverne Ritch, a swimming coach from Cardiff, Wales was vacationing with friends on Aug. 12, 2007, when he attempted to break up a fight outside Maynard’s Café in Margate.
According to authorities, the fight was between Robert Davies, of North Wildwood, and another man.
When Ritch intervened, Davies allegedly stabbed Ritch once in the chest before fleeing. Ritch, 37 at the time, was pronounced dead at the hospital, shortly after the stabbing.
Davies, 49, was arrested 11 days after the stabbing. He was then indicted on Aug. 8, 2008, a year after the incident. His charges included murder, aggravated manslaughter, manslaughter and various weapons offenses.
Why has it taken so long for this case to proceed?
Atlantic County Assistant Prosecutor William Merz, who is handling the case for the state, said a number of factors contributed.
“Delays in murder trials are not unusual, but this case has faced some significant challenges,” he said.
“For one thing, Davies has had three different lawyers and now he’s representing himself,” Merz said, noting that Davies deals with a standby counsel from the Atlantic County Public Defender’s Office. “Each time a new attorney comes in they need time to become familiar with the case, to get up to speed.”
In addition, the case is before its second judge. At first, it was in Judge Albert J. Garofolo’s courtroom and he has since retired. The case is now before Judge Bernard DeLury.
Because he is representing himself, Davies also has to petition the court for expenses to pay for his investigations and other court related costs, Merz said.
“That also takes time,” Merz said.
The South Wales Echo, a Welsh newspaper, noted the delays in a March 25 article.
“The trial of a man accused of murdering good Samaritan Lavern Ritch faces yet more delays because the defendant has chosen to represent himself,” the story read.
“The case has taken almost three years to come to trial as Davies…has had three different lawyers…also spent last year attempting to get the charges against him thrown out but his bid was rejected by the court,” the story continued.
“I just want to get a trial date and get this thing going,” Merz said, noting that should be soon. “And now I see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Merz said there was a pretrial conference held Wed., Sept. 1 that was rescheduled to Wed., Sept. 15.
“We should get a trial date at that time,” he said, noting that he would push for one as soon as possible, but expecting it to be a few months in the future.
At the time of the stabbing, Davies resided in an apartment in the 700 block of New York Avenue, North Wildwood.
Davies was registered as a Tier II sex offender under Megan’s Law. He served over three years in state prison, from May 26, 2000 to Aug. 29, 2003, for criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. His sex offender profile stated that he “befriended juvenile female victims, provided them with alcohol and marijuana, then fondled himself in their view.”
Davis remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility awaiting trial. His bail was set at $500,000 cash.