Judge to Review Feliciano's Medical Records

Prosecutors allege the accused murderer may have feigned illness.

The Hon. Thomas V. Manahan, sitting in Morristown, ordered an in camera review of Jose Feliciano's medical records. Feliciano, 66, is accused of murdering the Rev. Edward Hinds, the former pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Chatham Borough, on Oct. 22, 2009. Feliciano was the custodian at the church at the time Hinds was stabbed to death. Prosecutor Robert Bianchi submitted a motion asking for permission to review Feliciano's medical records, alleging he may have feigned the illness which sent him to Morristown Memorial Hospital on Oct. 23, 2009, after Hinds' body was discovered. Balin Baidwan, one of Feliciano's defense attorneys, said that medical records are confidential and there is not enough pressing evidence for Manahan to make an …

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The Chatham Weekend Guide

Peach Parties and Barn Contest

Farmers Market in the news with peach party and barn contest.

Those who think that peaches come in only two varieties – white and yellow – a stop by the Chatham Borough Farmers Market on Saturday may change your mind. Vendors will present some of the 23 varieties of peaches grown in the Garden State. Features of this week's peach-themed market include free samples of baked goods made with peaches, free peach recipe books (while they last) and peach tea, among others. As a special treat, shoppers can see the crowning (complete with a red carpet) of New Jersey Peach Princess Catherine Melick Bryant at 11 a.m. The Peach Princess is chosen each year by the New Jersey Peach Council. The Melicks Farm, a mainstay at the weekly Farmers Market, has grown peaches for over 100 years in Hunterdon County. Want a …

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Criminal Past Can Be Used Against Feliciano, Judge Rules

Jury selection for a trial could begin as early as September.

The state will be able to present evidence of the alleged prior criminal record of Jose Feliciano to a jury, Superior County Judge Thomas V. Manahan ruled Monday. Manahan reserved the right to detail at the beginning of trial the scope of the information the prosecution may present and the way the jury could use it. Feliciano is accused in the 2009 stabbing death of the Rev. Edward Hinds of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church of Chatham. The judge also set a pre-trial conference for July 20. Manahan and Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi, who will prosecute this case himself, gave Feliciano until July 20 to tell the court whether or not he will accept a plea to settle the charges that  he stabbed Hinds 32 times on Oct. 22, 2009. Bianchi…

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Daily Record: Feliciano's Hearing Postponed

The accused murderer complained of chest pain before a scheduled hearing Wednesday.

Jose Feliciano's scheduled court appearance was postponed Wednesday after the 66-year-old complained of chest pain, according to the Daily Record. The accused murderer had a hearing scheduled Wednesday to determine whether his alleged criminal past can be used against him in his trial for the murder of the Rev. Edward Hinds of St. Patrick's Church in Chatham Borough. Read the full story here: HEARING POSTPONED WHEN ACCUSED KILLER OF CHATHAM PRIEST COMPLAINS OF CHEST PAIN.

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Youth Ministry Mini-Golfs for Funds

The auditorium at St. Pat's was turned into a mini-golf course to raise money for youth ministry projects.

Homer Simpson, dinosaurs, legos, snowmen, cardboard cacti, palm trees and flamingos all made appearances at St. Patrick's youth ministry's whimsically themed golf tournament Saturday afternoon. The tournament, held in St. Patrick's auditorium, raised money for youth ministry projects, including an annual volunteer trip to Appalachia in West Virginia to build houses.  Youth minister Maggie Grady said that the youth ministry "worked like crazy" to organize the event and had spent several hours the night before repairing and repainting the golf holes, which were created as an Eagle Scout project of one of the youth ministry members two years ago.  About 370 kids make up St. Patrick's youth ministry, Grady said. Not only does the event raise …

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Judge Denies Dismissal in Murder Trial

Case against Feliciano to proceed, no prosecutorial misconduct found.

MORRISTOWN–Judge Thomas Manahan rejected a motion Thursday to dismiss the indictment against accused murderer Jose Feliciano, saying there was no prosecutorial misconduct in the directions given to the grand jury in the case. Feliciano's attorney, public defender Neill Hamilton, said the instructions issued to the grand jury by assistant prosecutor John McNamara Jr. allowed the jurors to determine if they had any bias or prejudice in the case, rather than allowing the assignment judge to make that determination. Feliciano is charged with allegedly killing Rev. Ed Hinds, of St. Patrick Church, last year. Grand jurors, Hamilton said "must disclose any bias, financial, proprietary or personal interest in the case" to the prosecutor, who must …

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St. Patrick's Parish Hosts 5K Run

Race part of the Many Hands, Many Hearts, One Community initiative.

St. Patrick's Parish in Chatham Borough will host its first 5-kilometer run Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the latest in the month-long series of community-building events  under the banner, "Many Hands, Many Hearts, One Community." The run falls near a date that caused much emotional pain and reflection in the community, the one-year anniversary of the murder of the Rev. Edward J. Hinds in the kitchen of the church rectory. The church intends to not only look back upon the life of Rev. Hinds, as with his memorial service one day prior to the run, but to build and renew the ties to the community and within the parish through coordinated outreach efforts. Rev. Robert Mitchell, the current pastor of St. Pat's, explained the reason for the 5K Run and…

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Feliciano's Court Date Postponed

Accused murderer had an appearance scheduled for Tuesday to be arraigned on new charges.

MORRISTOWN—Accused murderer Jose Feliciano had his arraignment on new charges delayed Tuesday for the second time. Feliciano's original court date of Oct. 6 was moved to Tuesday morning. However, the presiding judge in the case, Judge Thomas V. Manahan, is out sick this week, according to a courthouse bailiff. The arraignment on revised charges will likely take place next week. Judge Manahan has set aside the entire week of Oct. 18 for pre-trial motions, including the results of a psychiatric examination ordered by Feliciano's attorney. Feliciano is accused of murdering the Rev. Edward Hinds, the pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Chatham Borough. The revised indictment had minor changes to the language of the first count of first-degree …

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Accused Murderer Still Waits for Psychiatric Exam

Jose Feliciano’s mental capacity called into question.

Accused murderer Jose Feliciano's attorney Neill Hamilton said in a status hearing before Judge David Ironson Wednesday morning that a psychiatric examination for his client was still pending. Hamilton has not heard whether the cost of the exam has been approved by the state Office of the Public Defender. Hamilton also discussed legal motions in the case, including a motion to suppress cellular phone records and a motion that Feliciano's Miranda rights were violated. Hamilton alleged that Feliciano was taking Xanax and was in a psychiatric ward at the time he was questioned by investigators from the Morris County Prosecutors Office. Assistant Prosecutor David Bruno said that Feliciano was "not in the psychiatric ward for (mental) …

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