Prosecutor: Not seeking death penalty in Westland shooting
A Westland resident will not face the death penalty if he is convicted of murdering his cousin, Robert Edward Kramer Jr., earlier this year.
Joshua Jamar Moss, 28, learned of this development Friday in Washington County Court, where he appeared before Judge Gary Gilman for a formal arraignment.
Moss’ attorney, Public Defender Glenn Alterio, also asked Assistant District Attorney Leslie Ridge if the prosecution decided what degree of murder or manslaughter it intends to seek if the case goes to trial.
Ridge said that decision has not been made.
The commonwealth can ask a jury or judge to choose a degree of murder, which includes elements of planning and intent; voluntary manslaughter, which is a crime of passion; or involuntary manslaughter, an unintentional killing that results from recklessness.
Moss entered pleas of not guilty to the homicide charge and a charge of illegal possession of a firearm.
Gilman also scheduled a pretrial conference for next month and informed Moss of his right to request evidence in preparation of his defense.
“Since the charge is criminal homicide, obviously there is no bond,” Gilman said before sheriff’s deputies escorted Moss back to the county jail.
In a preliminary hearing last spring, a state trooper testified Moss told investigators at least 15 times during an interview he fired a shot, killing his cousin. The two reportedly got into an argument over who had a set of car keys during a birthday party in April.
At the hearing convened in the courthouse, Kramer’s friends and family members wore identical white T-shirts with red lettering that said, “Justice for Bobby.”
According to testimony, Kramer, 22, and Moss were among those celebrating the birthday of Walter Turner, Kramer’s stepfather, at an April 17 cookout at a Meadow Street duplex in Westland where the victim and defendant lived on opposite sides. The two men argued about who had keys to the car belonging to the sister of Kramer’s girlfriend. Moss stands accused of later firing fatal shot from a shotgun.
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco ruled Kramer died of a single gunshot wound to the neck and chest.