Perth Amboy man acquitted of manslaughter charges for fatal stabbing
Miguel Alvarez of Perth Amboy was acquitted today on aggravated manslaughter, reckless manslaughter, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon charges stemming from the stabbing of another Perth Amboy man during a fight in August 2007. Last year Alvarez was found not guilty of murder for the same incident; however, the jury was hung on the remaining charges. Alvarez was tried again on the remaining charges and was finally vindicated today by a second jury.
Prosecutors argued that Alvarez walked up behind the alleged victim during a fight and stabbed him in the side while the alleged victim was fighting someone else. However, Alvarez testified in his own defense that he was defending himself against a gang that had been threatening him. According to Alvarez, he was jumped by the gang on the night of August 26, 2007 when he came out of a restaurant with several friends.
If Alvarez had been convicted of aggravated manslaughter, the most serious charge he was facing, he would have faced up 30 years in state prison. However, the State has the burden of proving every element of the offenses charged beyond a reasonable doubt, and in this case, the prosecutors could not convince a Middlesex County jury that they had met that burden.
