Eyewitness Testimony Helped Convict Newark Man Of Murder: Prosecutor

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County jury has convicted a Newark man of first-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting that took place in 2019, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Darryl Watson, 28, of Newark, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting and killing of Fred Sims, 29, of Newark, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors said that eyewitness testimony was crucial to the case against Watson.

The prosecutor’s office released the following statement about the shooting:

“On February 7, 2019, Watson was distributing cocaine and heroin near the Kretchmer Elderly public housing complex in Newark’s South Ward. Video-surveillance cameras captured him stashing the drugs and a firearm in the rear wheel well of a minivan parked on Carrigan Street. Watson later retrieved the gun from the van, walked toward Sims, and without provocation shot him in the head. Watson stood over Sims’ body and shot him 10 more times, then fled the scene with the gun.”

After a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for an hour before convicting Watson of 10 counts: one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and six drug crimes: possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS with intent to distribute, and possession of CDS (cocaine and heroin) with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public housing facility.

In a separate trial immediately following the murder conviction, the jury found Watson guilty of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. In 2016, he had a conviction for distribution of drugs, prosecutors said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30. Watson faces 30 years to life in New Jersey state prison for the murder conviction, prosecutors said.

“This case was based largely on circumstantial evidence and this verdict would not have been possible without the eyewitness who had the courage to testify,” said Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Saraiva, who tried the case along with Assistant Prosecutor Brian Matthews.

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