Craig Fitzgerald | Homicide Watch Trenton

One homicide sentencing, two different views

Joe D'Aquila — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:24:29 -0500

Today's Comment of the Day comes in two parts from the recent sentencing of Aljava Gaither.
Gaither received a sentence of 12 years for the killing of Craig Fitzgerald in a case portrayed as a personal dispute between the two men over $10.
On our recent story about the sentencing, the following comment was left by a reader with the screenname delham:

"Keep your head up Mr. Gaither. Do your time, get our early.
Anyone who examines the situation can see you acted in self defense."

A different view of the case was written, however, when we posted a link to the story on the Homicide Watch Trenton Facebook page:

"They should of gave him life like he took a life."
--Kenya Corbett

Aljava Gaither sentenced to 12 years for aggravated manslaughter

Sherrina Navani — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:36:15 -0500

TRENTON- A city man was sentenced today for shooting another man to death, over a $10 dispute.
Aljava Gaither pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in October and, in accordance with his plea agreement, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Tuesday morning.

Aljava Gaither

Gaither fatally shot and killed Craig Fitzgerald in April over a $10 dispute.

According to reports, Fitzgerald, 24, left his home the night of April 9th, armed with wooden club because he knew he might encounter Gaither, 21, and end up discussing their months-long dispute about the money. The two men did meet that night, and began an argument inside the Reyes Supermarket on Calhoun Street.
The owner of the store pushed the two out onto the street and that is when the fight became violent. Fitzgerald began to club Gaither to the ground. Moments later Gaither, who lived nearby at the North 25 complex, pulled a gun and shot Fitzgerald in the leg.

Craig Fitzgerald

The shot broke Fitzgerald’s leg which forced him to collapsed on top of Gaither, who continued to shoot the victim three times in the chest.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Gaither will have to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence, or just over 10 years, before he is eligible for parole.

Trenton man pleads guilty in shooting death

Joe D'Aquila — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:22:43 -0400

TRENTON – Aljava Gaither has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Craig Fitzgerald as Fitzgerald tried to club him to death in a dispute over $10 on April 9, 2011, the Mercer County prosecutor’s office announced Wednesday.

In a plea deal, the 21-year-old Gaither admitted his guilt and agreed to serve up to 12 years in prison on a charge of aggravated manslaughter. He appeared before Mercer Superior Court Judge Mark Fleming on Tuesday morning.

Visit Trentonian.com for more on this story.