Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 21, 2020, Ciara Williams, 28, of Brick Township, was sentenced to four years New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Rochelle Gizinski, J.S.C., as a result of a previously entered guilty plea to Reckless Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2. Williams pled guilty to the charge before Judge Gizinski on July 2, 2020.
On Sunday, September 29, 2019, Brick Township Police were summoned to Ocean Medical Center in Brick regarding a male victim with an apparent stab wound to his chest. Police were able to ascertain that the victim, Dennis Power, 35, also of Brick, was driven to the hospital by a female later determined to be his fiancé, Ciara Williams. Hospital staff responded to the vehicle and found Mr. Power unconscious but breathing. He was rushed inside the hospital where lifesaving measures were attempted; these efforts were unsuccessful, however, and Mr. Power succumbed to his injuries. A subsequent investigation determined that Williams fled the scene before police arrived. Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that Williams stabbed Mr. Power in the chest, and was responsible for the injuries which ultimately led to his death.
“Williams originally faced more significant charges with greater sentencing exposure, but legitimate self-defense claims arose during the course of the investigation which we were compelled to take into account in evaluating this very difficult case,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “The claims of self-defense, coupled with considerable proof problems, led to a resolution which we believe to be fair and just after careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances. Williams has been made to answer for her crime, and will be required to spend the next few years in state prison as a result. We hope this prison sentence provides some level of peace and closure to the family of Mr. Power,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the diligence of Senior Assistant Prosecutors Kristin Pressman and Mara Brater who handled the case on behalf of the State. Prosecutor Billhimer likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Brick Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, whose collective efforts relative to this investigation culminated today with this state prison sentence.
Wasnt it self defense tho ?
Paul Warren no
Paul Warren sounds like it to me
Paul Warren the self defense laws in NJ are super strict. They gave her an extremely shorter sentence due to it being self defense but they couldn’t let her walk away with no jail time since she didn’t qualify for every single restriction they have. I’m guessing they probably felt she had the chance to try to either run away before fighting back or she didn’t use equal force. You can only resort to the form of self defense she used if that’s the level of threat she was in (he would’ve had to been attacking her with a knife first) but if he was only attacking her with his hand/fist and she used the knife it’s not equal self defense according to New Jersey laws.
https://www.lslawyers.com/self-defense.html
Kristin Smith , no… He would not have to be attacking her with a knife in order for that, nor does she have the duty to retreat IF it was during a DV incident… IF, in the case of DV, you believe your life is in serious danger DURING an attack you have every right to defend yourself, up to and including taking a life, and as long as you reasonably believe that, it’s a valid defense. IF a DV victim had been assaulted, and later on they decide to kill the other person, or attempt to do so, that doesn’t fall into the category of self defense…A DV victim, or ANY victim, who believes their life is in imminent danger can use force to stop it, the difference between a DV and anyone else is that when looking at it thru the law. A non DV case would have to look at the reaction being one that a reasonable person would’ve taken and/or perceived as being imminent danger…. In DV, it comes down to if a reasonable person who is a battered person, which gives more leeway. The person could be wrong, BUT if it’s a reasonable response, it’s a defense…
Battered women’s syndrome covers a lot of that, and gives more defenses.
You definitely do not have to wait for someone to attack you with a knife before using one to defend yourself…someone twice your size is attacking you, or even your size, and is slamming your head into a wall or sidewalk, that can lead to death or serious injury and you’d have every right to stab them, or use whatever you have and be covered
Did you even read the link I posted…. I literally recited the NJ self defense laws
https://www.lslawyers.com/self-defense.html
Paul Warren they took it as self defense but because she fled which I don’t get why she would get in trouble for .
In nj self defence equals manslaughter
Kristin Smith , yes I did, battered women’s syndrome is different… IF that’s the background… What’s written there and what the exact law is, is a little different and is different from what you wrote…. Makes zero mention of DV, which SD is looked at differently… No duty to retreat… equal force is not correct, and that’s a snipped of the law… The exact law goes into detail and exemptions….
So awful. She feared for her life. He beat the balls off of her. Look at her mug shot when she was arrested. Not this one. She defended herself and then drove him to the hospital for help. Justice was not served in this case.
Laura Truszkowski you are more confused than Biden on facts.
Monty Capuletti how?
Laura Truszkowski actually the police had been to their apartment numerous times for her assaulting him. Look it up. Just run her name.
Read the original news reports. She went on the run right after destroying evidence at the crime scene with her buddy who was also charged. She used bleach to clean up the scene.
Her mug shot literally had a black eye. How can anyone be confused about that??
Monty Capuletti I know she has a past. Doesn’t mean that night he didn’t beat her face in. She acted in defense and she then drove him to the hospital. It was like she left him there for someone else to find him.
Monty Capuletti it’s sad when people don’t believe that a man can be abused by a woman. It happens so much and more men need to speak up!
But Power’s relatives said Williams was actually the abuser in the pair’s relationship, with his sister citing an Instagram message he sent her eight months before he was killed.
“I am in an abusive relationship,” the message read. “It’s embarrassing. Who would believe me?”
Power’s sister, Chelsea Miller, said he also sent her photos and videos of Williams throwing hot coffee on him and of her holding a knife. Power was also planning on leaving Williams, Miller said.
“His stuff was packed,” she said. “He was ready to go, and she knew it … There’s no doubt in my mind this was a calculated plan to end his life because he no longer wanted to be with Ciara.”
She dumped him off and then dumped the car, then brought her kid to her mothers so she could go clean the apartment of evidence. Finally she took off and couldn’t be located until the next day. There is no proof her friend didn’t cause the injury as an alibi during their missing day. He was charged with destroying evidence as well.
Who did it is the question? The boyfriend or the friend that helped her clean the crime scene?
Laura Truszkowski if it was self defense why did she take a plea deal instead of fighting to clear her name
Bobbie Lyn Harrsch because you get less time in jail……
Monty Capuletti she is very confused and needs to have a seat
Bobbie Lyn Harrsch well a plea deal guaranteed her less time in jail? Why roll the dice with a jury?!
Shar Fry if she was ‘innocently defending herself’ she would stood up for herself if there is a history of HER being the VICTIM of domestic violence it would have been used for her defence. I believe his sister that he was the VICTIM and was ready to leave her and that is why she killed him. Anyone who knows the cycle of domestic violence knows that when you leave/are leaving is the most dangerous time in breaking the cycle
Lynn Jaime she wouldn’t have driven him to get help
She dumped him in the parking lot and took off without notifying anyone, then went back and cleaned up the crime scene with a friend and some bleach, what are you talking about?
They let people out of prisons now anyway. See ya next week lady ????????
4 years wtf
Skye Marie Williams she killed her abuser
Niki Lynn Schwefringhaus regardless if he was her abuser or not 4 years for murder thats nothing .
I am pretty sure they had a child together. Which is a shame because now that child has no dad and moms in prison. It’s very sad.
Denise Desiree Capizzo Stewart Denise, agreed but did you see her mug shot? He beat the crap out of her and apparently she stabbed him 1 time and then even drove him to the hospital. She was clearly in fear for her life. I don’t think she should have to do time. Way too many people get to walk in cases like this or even just “stand your ground” laws. As a victim of domestic abuse Incan absolutely see why she did what she did. I guarantee it wasn’t the first time. It’s so sad!
Linda Anne Wolff I agree. I remember the story. It is so sad. I hope she has an attorney and they appeal the decision. Unfortunately they look at what’s been recorded and it appears it’s been her that has been the aggressor in many instances. NJ kind of sucks with some of the laws. They aren’t very clear either.
Linda Anne Wolff she fled and cleaned up the crime scene. She had a friend that helped her. If you look at her mug shot, which was taken about 36 hrs AFTER he was dropped at the hospital the injuries look fresh not 36 hrs old. Only God her and her victim know the truth
Bobbie Lyn Harrsch WOW! That’s crazy! So then, I look at it like this… If she was protecting herself she should be a free woman. BUT,
If she was the abuser and covered it up and now he’s dead then 4 years is a joke! You’re right about who knows the truth… Unfortunately, she’s the only one able to say what happened… But she’ll have her day when she gets to the pearly gates and either is or isn’t allowed in!
You’d be surprised how many women are incarcerated for self defense. It’s so wrong.
No!… Show her mugshot where she has a busted up face. She acted in self defense!
Self defense is not a legal argument in new jersey and that is definitely a shame!!!!
The earrings though ????????♀️????. 1985 called. They want them
Back.
Dee Nah that’s what you get from the story is making fun of her earrings? You should probably take a look in the mirror, dear.
You
Should
Go Ph. K. Yo selfffff
You
Should
Go Ph. K. Yo selfffff
Four years for defending her life?
The system is BROKEN!! ????????????
self defense and still gets jail time ????♂️ makes total sense.