Last Two Defendants Plead Guilty in Short Hills Mall Murder
By: Moe M.
On December 15, 2013, a newlywed couple had gone to the Short Hills Mall when four individuals appeared at the mall with the intention of stealing a vehicle. As Mr. Friedland helped his wife into their car, he walked back to the driver’s side at which point Thompson forcefully tried to take his keys away and shot Friedland.
Basim Henry, a thirty-six (36) year old South Orange resident, who was the getaway driver, has already been to trial and convicted on all counts against him. Henry has been sentenced to life in prison. Kevin Roberts, a thirty-nine (39) year old Newark resident, plead guilty in July for First-Degree Carjacking and has a twenty (20) year sentence in prison, subject to the NJ No Early Release Act. NERA requires the Defendant to serve 85% of his sentence before he becomes eligible for Parole.
On October 10, 2017, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced that the last two Defendants, Karif Ford, a thirty-five (35) year old resident of Newark, and Hanif Thompson, a thirty-two (32) year old resident of Irvington, pled guilty to the particular roles they played in a carjacking murder at the Short Hill Mall back in December of 2013. Ford and Thompson attempted to carjack a top-class vehicle which led to the death of Dustin Friedland, a thirty (30) year old lawyer in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Ford and Thompson accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty for the crimes the committed. Ford pled guilty to one count of First-Degree Carjacking and Thompson pled guilty for Felony Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Handgun. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Ford must serve eighty-five (85) percent of a 20-year sentence before eligibility for parole and Thompson must serve thirty (30) years before eligibility for parole.
All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
