Monell seeks self-representation in wife murder case
BRIDGETON - Murder defendant Jeremiah E. Monell is seeking to represent himself against charges he stabbed his estranged wife to death.
Monell was in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday morning for what was to be a hearing on whether he would be released from jail while awaiting trial.
Public Defender Lindsey Seidel, representing Monell for the moment, requested a five-day continuance in the pre-trial detention hearing and also informed Judge Cristen D'Arrigo that Monell wanted to be his own attorney.
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Seidel told the court that her investigator had been denied access to Monell in the jail. She said that situation was resolved thanks to an order from D'Arrigo.
Monell then asked to address the court, but D'Arrigo cautioned him against it and Monell ended up saying nothing about the case itself.
D'Arrigo ordered Monell to appear in court for his pre-trial detention hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 17. He must file a motion with the court before being allowed to represent himself.
County Prosecutor Michael Ostrowski afterward said the delay is allowed under a new state law. Ostrowski and Assistant Prosecutor Brent Hopkins are representing the state.
Monell, 32, of Cedarville, is charged with first-degree murder and other offenses in the stabbing death of his estranged wife Tara O'Shea-Watson in their home in the Laurel Lake section of Commercial Township. New Jersey State Police found her unconscious and unresponsive in her home on Dec. 19, 2016 after being stabbed multiple times.
Relatives of the victim last week said O'Shea-Watson was seeking a divorce and hoping to move to Tennessee with the two young children she and Monell had. She was 35. The couple lived apart and she had obtained a final restraining order against Monell.
State police did not find Monell at the scene of the crime, but charges were filed the same day against him. Troopers found him on Jan. 2 hiding in woods in Folsom Borough, Atlantic County.
According to court records, Monell was indicted in July 2016 on charges of burglary and criminal contempt in connection with allegedly "unlawfully" entering O'Shea-Watson's house while a restraining order was in place. That alleged incident occurred on April 26, 2016 at the house on the 7900 block of Raymond Drive.
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The burglary charge also alleged that Monell "purposely, knowingly or recklessly did inflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten bodily injury on Tara O'Shea-Watson."
According to the indictment, the restraining order had been issued the same day Monell allegedly violated it.
Court records show the indictment was dismissed on Nov. 11, 2016 on a motion of the Prosecutor's Office. The reason is not stated. Monell used a private attorney, Shirley Grasso, for that case.
Court records show that state police had arrested Monell on April 26, 2016. Their first list of charges included one for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and one for possession of marijuana with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set first at $20,000 full bond or cash, and Monell did not post it.
Bail was reduced on May 10, 2016 to posting 10 percent of $10,000 but again it was not posted.
Monell finally was released on May 20 without bail.
A search of court records shows that Monell was arrested in Atlantic County in May 2003 on burglary and theft charges. Monell, a Millville resident at the time, was indicted but he was allowed to enter the state's pre-trial intervention program rather than face trial. He completed the year-long program and charges were dismissed.
Monell was arrested again on October 2013 in Salem County. He was indicted on a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon. That case was dismissed in April 2014 on a motion by the prosecution.
Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com