Law Offices of Michael A. Robbins
- He stood as Robbins, mourned the loss of Christina Cassidy and spoke of her as a "great, amazing kid," detailing her education, community service and giving nature.
- He spoke about how Christina learned Russian when her aunt adopted a child from that country.
- He then spoke of how his client, too, was a "great kid" - a hard worker, holding two jobs to help his family, active in church, and never in trouble.It was the beginning of an emotional journey few had ever seen in a courtroom.
- "He can't re-enter the country, and the family doesn't have the money to travel," Robbins said after the hearing. "This is the collateral consequence of the immigration debate. This is a real kid, a real family being broken up. He's got nobody in Uruguay. They're all here."
- When it was Silvera's turn to speak at the hearing, Robbins held a letter in front of him and in a trembling voice and with tears streaming down his face, he expressed deep remorse, knowing "I took a life that was valuable to God." He spoke of how the accident replayed over and over in his mind, and the guilt of his actions had hollowed him out.
- Miles was friends with the mother of Smith's daughter, prosecutors said. Smith was no longer romantically involved with the mother of his children and was visiting his children at her home when the confrontation occurred, said Smith's attorney Michael Robbins.
- "It's a classic case of an otherwise peaceful, law-abiding father brought to his breaking point," he said, adding that the jury's decision "was the right one."
- "It was our request as we opened the trial that they not convict of murder," Robbins said.
- Robbins said he plans to ask the judge for the minimum sentence possible so Smith can reunite with his children soon. Smith faces five to 10 years for manslaughter and five to 10 years for weapon possession.
- "There are no winners here, none," he said. "Our condolences go out to the Miles family."
Woman charged with executing ex-boyfriend takes plea deal before start of trial
- A Jersey City woman charged with shooting her ex-boyfriend in the back of the head in 2014 has pleaded guilty to the homicide and will face a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
- The case was handled by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Karyn Darish and Nisbett is represented by defense attorney Michael Robbins.
2016 Coverage:
Alleged killer pleads not guilty to double murder of girlfriend, young son
- The man charged with killing his former girlfriend and their 4-year-old son in October pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder this afternoon.
- Santos-Alvarez -- who used a Spanish interpreter during today's arraignment -- is represented by West Orange attorney Michael Robbins. Robbins indicated Santos-Alvarez is not a legal resident of the United States and declined comment following the hearing.
'Portal to hell' stabbing suspect was psychotic from synthetic marijuana, lawyer says
- It was only after Mesz smoked synthetic marijuana while living with his girlfriend in Union early January 2011, that he began having Biblical visions, the attorney, Michael Robbins, said of his client.
- "He was seeing and believing things that weren't real," Robbins said in an impassioned opening statement at the trial in which Mesz is charged with three counts of attempted murder along with weapons offenses.
- "In that shed, he was trying to save lives," Robbins said.
The devil in 'portal to hell' case is a now-banned drug
- The word "allegedly" is not in the previous sentence because Mesz's attorney, Mike Robbins, acknowledges "there is no dispute about what happened. The question here is about his state of mind."
- "This is a tragedy on many levels," Robbins said before opening arguments yesterday. "What happened to these victims is a nightmare, a true nightmare, and nobody is trying to diminish that. It was a life-scarring event."
- "Imagine, if this was banned two years earlier, none of this would have happened," Robbins said.
'Portal to hell' suspect 'looked crazy,' stabbing victim told police
- Mesz' lawyer, Michael Robbins has argued that his client suffered from psychotic intoxication after smoking synthetic marijuana.
- Robbins has noted that the synthetic drug is now illegal to sell or purchase.
Defense attorney, Michael Robbins rests his hands on the shoulders of his client Morgan Mesz as he presents his opening statements to the jury in what is known as the "Portal to Hell" trial." Mesz is charged with three counts of attempted murder for the hatchet attack of two women and the man who came to their aid in 2011 while high on legally sold synthetic pot. Elizabeth, NJ 1/26/16 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Morgan Mesz talks with his attorney Micahel Robbins. Mesz is charged with three counts of attempted murder following the Jan. 7, 2011 assault on Longview Road in Union. The trial is before Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim at the County Courthouse in Elizabeth.(Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Michael Robbins holds a poster with the name of the chemical found in synthetic pot that he says made his client Morgan Mesz psychotic as Robbins presents his opening statement in the "Portal to Hell" of Mesz. Mesz is charged with three counts of attempted murder for the hatchet attack of two women and the man who came to their aid in 2011 while high on legally sold synthetic pot. Elizabeth, NJ 1/26/16 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Neighbor Magda Wagner looks at scarf she made for Morgan Mesz that was in evidence and held by defense attorney Michael Robbins. Morgan Mesz is charged with three counts of attempted murder following the Jan. 7, 2011 assault on Longview Road in Union. The trial is before Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim at the County Courthouse in Elizabeth.(Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
