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Samuel C. Coggins, 31, of Flemington, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the July 14, 2022 beating death of Augustine Garcia, of Manville, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.
Coggins was helping Garcia and another resident move from a home on North 12th Avenue in Manville when Coggins assaulted Garcia in the driveway just before 3 p.m., McDonald said.
Garcia was found unresponsive with a severe head injury outside the home, and Coggins remained at the scene. First responders initiated life-saving measures before Garcia was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Coggins, who called 9-1-1, remained at the scene, and later received a trial by jury during the week of Sept. 25, 2023, in front of Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober.
That same jury issued a verdict of guilty on Oct. 3, to both counts of Indictment No. 22-09-00446-I, charging Coggins with Murder in the First Degree (with aggravating factors that the murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind, or an aggravated assault to the victim), and with Bias Intimidation in the First Degree.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.
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