Jury selection will begin today before the Honorable Judge James - TopicsExpress

Jury selection will begin today before the Honorable Judge James M. Blaney, J.S.C. in the vehicular homicide case of State vs Erick Uzcategui, 34, of Manchester, NJ. The defendant is charged in the death of Ocean Gate Police Officer Jason Marles, whom he struck on the Garden State Parkway in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day 2010, just after Officer Marles got off duty and was returning home. Uzcategui is alleged to have been intoxicated at the time of the offense and in possession of illegal steroids. The trial is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutors Pat Sheehan and Michael Weatherstone, with assistance from the Ocean County Major Crimes Unit. Det. David Margentino from the Ocean County Fatal Accident Unit investigated the case and will be called to testify. Sgt. Matt Rezukas of the New Jersey State Police will be providing additional critical evidence regarding the crash. Uzcategui has been out on $250,000 bail since December 2010. He faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years in New Jersey State’s Prison if convicted, of which he would by law have to serve 85% of the term before becoming eligible for parole.