State v. Zelichowski

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Schettino, J.

This is an appeal from a conviction of atrocious assault and battery.

On June 17, 1966, at approximately 12:30 p.m., an Elizabeth policeman found the deceased, John Schlagenhaft, lying beaten and helpless alongside a brook in a city park. The victim, covered with “crusty blood” and clothed only in a ripped T-shirt and a pair of socks, was removed to a hospital where he died at 8:05 a.m. on June 20.

A Union County Grand Jury subsequently indicted Kenneth Zelichowski and three other men for the murder of John Schlagenhaft.

At the joint trial of…