Recorded phone calls from the Atlantic County jail were enough to convict a man of attempted murder, the state Supreme Court ruled this week, overturning an appellate decision.
Quashawn Jones was convicted in 2015 of 10 counts, including attempting to kill a woman twice: once when he shot her, and a second time when he tried to arrange to have her killed to avoid testifying against him.
An appellate court overturned the second attempted murder, finding that phone calls Jones made to his girlfriend and a cousin were not enough to convict him on that count. That decision also took away a 15-year sentence.
But that was re-instated this week when the state’s top court found that it was sufficient.
Andrea Allen testified at Jones’ trial how Jones shot her several times inside a friend’s Carver Hall apartment, even after she played dead.
“I thought I was going to die,” she testified at trial.
At trial, then-Chief Assistant Prosecutor Cary Shill noted that Allen almost didn’t make it to the witness stand.
“I wouldn’t need a lawyer if (expletives) was doing what they’re supposed to be,” Jones was heard telling his fiancee in a recorded jailhouse phone call played to jurors. “The (expletive) should have been dead already.”
In re-instating the conviction, the justices noted that “the state presented sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude that defendant took substantial steps to accomplish his plan.”
That included telling his girlfriend to text someone on his behalf to carry out the killing and demanding his cousin post bail to release Jones so he could carry out the killing himself.
“The New Jersey Supreme Court delivered justice to the very brave victim in this case," Assistant Prosecutor Melinda Harrigan said.
“The New Jersey Supreme Court delivered justice to the very brave victim in this case and I was honored to be able to take this case to our highest court on her behalf,” said Assistant Prosecutor Melinda Harrigan, who argued the appeal before the state Supreme Court.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner lauded Harrigan for getting the conviction re-instated.
“This was a hard fought victory for victims and witnesses who are often the targets of threats and intimidation,” Tyner said. “AP Harrigan did an incredible job persuading our state Supreme Court that credible attempts on a person’s life can occur any many different ways. This conviction serves notice that the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office will always fight for the justice that victims and witnesses deserve.”
Jones, 34, has been in the New Jersey State Prison since July 31, 2015. He is not eligible for parole until Feb. 8, 2051, when he will be 65 years old.
