Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Wali Williams, 32, of Newark of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the murder of Anthony Flowers, 22, also of Newark.
The state alleged that on March 3, 2014, Williams fatally shot Flowers on Avon Avenue and South 11th Street. Flowers and his brother had confronted Williams after he assaulted a third brother.
Following a trial before the Honorable Martin G. Cronin, Judge of the Superior Court, today, a jury acquitted Williams of murder but found him guilty of the lesser charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17 before Judge Cronin. Williams faces 10 to 20 years. Williams was previously convicted of aggravated assault. He was also previously convicted of two 2003 fatal shootings but those convictions were overturned by a state appeals court. At the time of the most recent event, Williams had just been released from prison.
The case was tried by Assistant Prosecutor Carlo Fioranelli and Assistant Prosecutor John Anderson.