The Sarah Stern Trial...More Than A Murder...

There were alot of Detectives,Attorneys Prosecutors& Family waiting outside the courtroom for this day to begin.This day in particular was a long time in waiting. Closing arguments had commenced on Friday. And today Monday February 25, 2019, Judge Richard W. English was ready to start the day charging the jury pool in preparation for their deliberations in the Sarah Stern trial. Sarah's car was abandoned in the southbound shoulder atop the Route 35 Bridge in Belmar — with the keys still in it — in the wee hours of Dec. 3, 2016. It worsened early the following year when, with Sarah Stern still missing, her father learned that two childhood friends and former high school classmates of his daughter — one her date for the junior prom — were arrested and charged with her murder.

Liam McAtasney, was
arrested and charged with her murder. They were accused of killing the budding artist in a robbery and throwing her body in the Shark River Inlet to make it look like she had committed suicide, so they could share $10,000 they stole from her. Preston Taylor, now 21, of Neptune, admitted helping McAtasney throw the corpse off the bridge for a $3,000 cut of $10,000 that McAtasney is alleged to have stolen from the victim. Preston cut a deal with the Prosecutors in exchange for his testimony against McAtasney.
As we waited outside the courtroom friends and family began handing out purple ribbons they each tied around their wrists.

Purple was Sarah Stern's favorite color, and her Father wore purple each day of her trial. The 9:30 a.m. start time had come and gone and it seemed the delay was out of the ordinary opening the courtroom.
Just around late morning about 1030 a.m. Meghan Doyle, one of the lead prosecutors came out of the courtroom and announced there was an issue with the jury. Apparently while the jurors were in the cafeteria area someone walked by and said, " Guilty, Guilty, Guilty!" This was reported to the judge and now each juror had to be questioned as to their ability to remain impartial. Consequently the courtroom opened, the jurors were brought in, and each one was questioned individually at sidebar with the Judge Richard W. English and lawyers from both sides present. With no further delays the judge began explaining the process in advance of charging the jury.
During this process the courtroom is on lockdown and no one is allowed to enter or leave. The judge's instructions then began concerning the law that applies to the facts of the case on trial. In this case the deliberations are based on 7 charges.
In addition to murder, McAtasney is charged with felony murder, robbery, desecrating human remains, conspiracy to desecrate human remains, tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension. As of close of business today the jury will have begun deliberations with a verdict hopefully reached by week's end. Michael Stern, shared some upcoming fund raisers coming in the Spring at Neptune's High School. A Teachers vs Teachers football event at Summer Field to raise money for an Art Scholarship on behalf of his daughter. Dates and more information to follow.