A person charged with killing one other father after a dispute involving their teen kids has rejected a suggestion that might have given him 10 years in jail in return for a responsible plea.
Eric D. Hannah, 56, of Vineland, is accused of killing Louis “Gus” Serbeck, 54, of Millville, throughout an April 20 brawl at Hannah’s residence.
Hannah’s 17-year-old son can also be charged within the loss of life.
The daddy and son are accused of placing Serbeck with a steel bat and a steel flashlight after the sufferer got here to their house.
Serbeck went to the home to talk to the household about an incident a day earlier through which Serbeck’s daughter claimed the youthful Hannah assaulted her, police mentioned.
A grand jury indicted Eric Hannah final month on fees of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon for an illegal objective and fourth-degree illegal possession of a weapon.
Hannah’s legal professional entered a not responsible plea throughout a Monday listening to. The lawyer beforehand mentioned his shopper wasn’t concerned within the combat, didn’t strike anybody and solely tried to defuse the state of affairs.
Gus Serbeck “laid his life right down to do what he does finest, to guard his household; to guard his child lady,” based on his obituary. It mentioned his loss of life “is only one extra fantasy that may outline his legendary life.”
Serbeck’s daughter was in “some form of relationship” with Hannah’s son, Cumberland County Assistant Prosecutor Cathryn Wilson mentioned throughout a Might courtroom listening to.
Officers beforehand mentioned the daughter accused Hannah’s son of assaulting her a day earlier than the deadly confrontation. However the prosecutor dealing with Monday’s listening to mentioned the alleged assailant in that incident might have been “both one of many minors” dwelling on the Hannah residence.
Serbeck’s daughter advised her father concerning the assault, and so they went to the Hannah house on Easter Sunday to talk to the household, investigators mentioned.
Gus Serbeck and Eric Hannah had been longtime associates, based on household and investigators.
The Serbecks had been met on the door by the 17-year-old charged within the case.
The teenager instantly started throwing punches on the elder Serbeck after which attacked him with a steel bat, prosecutors mentioned.
Hannah’s daughter recorded cellphone video displaying among the incident.
The video reveals Serbeck holding the boy on the bottom and the boy, who suffered facial accidents within the combat, persevering with to hit Serbeck with the bat, prosecutors mentioned.
Eric Hannah then joined the combat, based on Cumberland County Assistant Prosecutor Shari-Ann Sasu.
“It’s additional alleged that this defendant, Eric Hannah, was current and later joined the combat, probably placing the sufferer as properly,” Sasu mentioned Monday. “He was seen in possession of each the steel bat and the steel flashlight on a recording that occurred by his daughter.”
Serbeck’s daughter advised investigators Eric Hannah hit her father within the head with the steel flashlight a number of instances, although the video doesn’t present him hitting Serbeck, based on the prosecution and courtroom paperwork.
A “noticeable mark” discovered on Serbeck’s head matches the imprint from the flashlight, the prosecution said.
When the Serbecks tried to go away, Hannah’s son began hitting Serbeck’s automobile with a hammer, based on the prosecution.
Then, Serbeck mentioned he couldn’t breathe and collapsed, his daughter advised investigators.
He died on his method to a hospital.
Whereas the prosecution remains to be ready on the post-mortem report, the prosecutor’s workplace acquired an evaluation of the findings, Sasu said Monday.
“It’s alleged that the assault was a contributing issue amongst many to the decedent’s demise,” she mentioned.
Beneath the state’s plea supply, Hannah might plead to an aggravated manslaughter cost in return for a really useful sentence of 10 years in jail. The deal would have a requirement that he serve no less than 85% of that point earlier than he’s eligible for parole.
Hannah’s son was charged with murder and weapons offenses, together with an aggravated assault cost for allegedly placing Serbeck’s daughter within the head through the combat.
He may very well be tried as an grownup, prosecutors mentioned.
On the time of the incident, Eric Hannah was already on pre-trial launch in an unrelated case involving fees that he possessed methamphetamine and ghost weapons, that are firearms with out serial numbers.
Weapons recovered from his house in that case included two shotguns and a rifle, based on courtroom paperwork. He was additionally charged with possession of a large-capacity ammunition journal. Hannah was indicted on 5 counts in that case and beforehand entered a not responsible plea to these fees.
Throughout the listening to on Monday, protection legal professional William Popjoy mentioned Hannah knowledgeable him the weapons had been registered to his father. The prosecution has agreed to confirm that with police, based on Popjoy.
“If they’re in actual fact, as claimed, registered to his father, he’s prepared to simply accept accountability in some kind for the drug fees,” Popjoy mentioned. “So if we will get that affirmation, I consider that matter will be resolved sooner or later.”
Hannah stays jailed pending the decision of his circumstances. He’s due again in courtroom Oct. 10 for his subsequent hearings on each circumstances.
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Matt Grey could also be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
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