A co-defendant charged in connection with the 2012 killing of a teenager in Roselle has pleaded guilty for the second time in as many months, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Corey Winston, 22, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of Damel Mitchell. The plea was entered Thursday before state Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim.
Police were called to the Sylvester Land football field in Roselle shortly before 11 a.m. on February 20, 2012 on reports of a person having been shot, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Sheets, who prosecuted the case. The 17-year-old Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene approximately 15 minutes later, Sheets said.
A joint investigation led to the arrests of Winston, 23-year-old Derrick Dunn, and 23-year-old Nyfee Mallory two days after the shooting.
The investigation revealed that the three defendants lured the victim to the football field that night with the intent to rob him. As Mitchell attempted to flee, Sheets said, he was shot and killed.
In March 2017, following a trial lasting three weeks and jury deliberations spread over two days, Mallory was found guilty of charges including robbery and felony murder. Dunn pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated manslaughter the next month.
Sentencing for Winston has been scheduled for September 15, 2017, at which time the State will recommend he receive a sentence of 20 years in state prison.
Sentencing for Dunn and Mallory is also pending.