Ga. man accused in fatal casino stabbing makes first court appearance
By REGINA SCHAFFER, Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, April 08, 2008
1 p.m. Update - MAYS LANDING – A Georgia man charged with stabbing to death a Toms River man after an argument at a casino poker table answered questions regarding his rights during his first appearance Tuesday morning.
Superior Court Judge Albert Garofolo advised Vicente Perez, 57, of his rights and asked the Macon, Georgia man if he understood what he was charged with. Perez was charged Saturday night with aggravated manslaughter, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose following the stabbing death of Arthur Prince, 61.
Perez began arguing with Prince at a poker table inside the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, authorities said. They stepped out of the casino and into the valet parking area of the garage near the Virginia Avenue entrance, where the argument descended into violence. Atlantic County Medical Examiner Hydow Park determined that Prince died from a wound to the left cheek that severed a carotid artery and caused him to bleed to death. The knife was recovered at the scene, authorities said.
The judge kept Perez’s bail at $500,000 full cash, but Perez’s attorney, James Leonard Jr., told Garofolo that he would be filing a formal bail application the same day. Perez remains in the Atlantic County jail pending further proceedings.
A number of Perez’s family members — who traveled from Georgia — filled the courtroom in a show of support, including his wife, two adult daughters and a brother. Neither Leonard nor Perez’s family had any comment after the brief hearing.  |