Raheem Currie was convicted of aggravated assault and for the victim's father, former police officer Luddie Austin, it's a relief
TRENTON - A Trenton man was found guilty Wednesday for his role in the shooting death of James Austin - the 19-year-old son of a former Trenton police officer.
Robert S. Bartley, left, and Raheem Currie, right (file photo) Raheem Currie, 23, of Trenton, was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter, conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon. The most serious of those charges - aggravated manslaughter - carries a minimum 10-year sentence and a maximum of 30 years.
Currie, along with cousin Robert Bartley, was accused in the shooting death of 19-year-old James Austin - the son of retired officer Luddie Austin - in February of 2013 at Austin's girlfriend's house on East State Street. During the trial, which started in mid-July, witnesses testified that Currie and Austin had been in a fight earlier on the day of the shooting.
Currie's longtime girlfriend, Endia Kaver, said both men broke the other's car windshield before Currie left the scene and went to pick up his cousin. He, Bartley, Kaver and another man drove back to the East State Street home where Bartley confronted Austin, Kaver said. Bartley pulled out a gun and shot Austin before all four people fled in the car.
Shooter testifies against alleged accomplice
Bartley, who has since pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, testified against Currie at the trial and said he had shown Currie the gun he would later use in the shooting before they arrived at the East State Street house.
The jury in the trial deliberated for two and a half days before finding Currie guilty Wednesday afternoon. They acquitted him of his prior conspiracy to possess weapons charge and his weapons possession charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced to prison in September.
For Luddie Austin, who has waited with his extended family in court every day during the trial, the verdict brings closure.
"I'm a little shocked. It's kind of hard to believe," Austin said, recalling the multiple status conferences and court appearances that were pushed back over the past three years. The verdict is a sigh of relief, Austin said. It's one that makes way for memory, rather than just grief.
"The love for James is still going to exist," Austin said, on looking forward past the end of the trial, "I can see my son. I can see his smile. I can think of that."
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman