Douglas Battle | Homicide Watch Trenton

Douglas Battle sentenced to 20 years in death of fellow gang member

Isaac Avilucea — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 19:29:29 -0500

A senseless dispute between gang members ended one man’s life and will put another one in prison for several decades.

Douglas Battle, 23, will spend 20 years in prison after he was sentenced for the June 2012 shooting death of Wilfredo Rivera, a fellow member of the Sex Money sect of the notorious Bloods street gang. He must serve 17 years before he is eligible for parole.

Battle pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in August for shooting Rivera at the Roger Gardens housing complex on Hoffman Avenue. The plea deal also required him to admit guilt to assault for attacking a Mercer County Corrections officer days after he was brought into custody. Judge Robert Billmeier imposed a five-year sentence on the assault, which will be served concurrently.

Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Brian McCauley said the dispute between the gang members arose out of a lack of respect. Rivera’s cousin, Chantel Ray, spoke at the sentencing, but had to be hauled out of the courtroom by marshals shortly after Battle told Judge Robert Billmeier he hadn’t intended to kill Rivera. “You’re a liar,” Ray said.

Ray could be heard crying hysterically in the hallway. Inside, Battle continued addressing the court after she was led away. “I feel bad I killed him,” he said. “It wasn’t intentional.”

Killer pleads guilty to ambushing victim in 2012 slaying

Paul Mickle — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 07:33:43 -0400

TRENTON — An ambush killer who beat up a corrections officer when he landed in jail plead guilty today in a deal slating him for 20 years in prison.
Douglas Battle, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for gunning down convicted killer Wilfredo “Murder Marty’’ Rivera, 32, on Oakland Street in the West Ward on June 23, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a corrections officer and got five years in prison for that. But under the plea deal worked out by the defense and Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Brian McCauley, the prison terms will be permitted to run at the same time, “concurrently’’ in legal jargon.
The guilty plea was made before Mercer Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier, who set the sentencing for Oct. 23.
Battle initially was charged with first-degree homicide because he allegedly laid in wait for “Murder Marty’’ to approached, then jumped from the dark and pumped several bullets into the victim.

Douglas Battle pleads guilty to 2012 slaying of Wilfredo “Murder Marty’’ Rivera

Paul Mickle — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 18:46:18 -0400

An ambush killer who beat up a corrections officer when he landed in jail plead guilty today in a deal slating him for 20 years in prison.

Douglas Battle, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for gunning down convicted killer Wilfredo “Murder Marty’’ Rivera, 32, on Oakland Street in the West Ward on June 23, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a corrections officer and got five years in prison for that. But under the plea deal worked out by the defense and Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Brian McCauley, the prison terms will be permitted to run at the same time, “concurrently’’ in legal jargon.

The guilty plea was made before Mercer Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier, who set the sentencing for October 23.

Battle initially was charged with first-degree homicide because he allegedly laid in wait for “Murder Marty’’ to approached, then jumped from the dark and pumped several bullets into the victim.