The reckless manslaughter conviction and eight-year prison sentence of a Glassboro man for a fatal stabbing in Williamstown was upheld by an appeals court Monday, Oct. 20.

Carlos Bryant Jr., 28,  was convicted of killing Robert Harrell, 19, on Dec. 18, 2007 at the Williamstown apartment of Bryant’s sister.

The appellate judges rejected defense arguments that instructions by the trial judge to the jury on self defense, and her refusal to question jurors when the foreperson asked to be replaced were trail errors, authorities said.

While the judge’s instructions may have been over-inclusive, there was no prejudice to the defendant, according to the 28-page decision.

Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Joseph Enos wrote that the trial judge’s legal instructions were not only not detrimental to Bryant, but actually benefitted the defendant, allowing the jury to determine whether Bryant used non-deadly force.

The appellate decision found no “claim of juror irregularity” requiring the trial judge to conduct an interrogation of jurors.  

The appeals court also found Bryant’s eight-year prison sentence was supported by the defendant’s “history of violence” and the need for deterrence.  

The defense claim that the sentence should have considered provocation of Bryant as a factor in his favor was “negated” in the judge’s recitation of events, Enos said.

“You recklessly caused the death of an unarmed man, while you sister pleaded with you to leave,” the judge told Bryant at sentencing.
                                        
Only on the issue of restitution did the appeals court order reconsideration. The $5,000 payment to the state Victims of Crime Compensation Fund for Harrell’s funeral was vacated and the judges ordered a hearing on Bryant’s ability to pay that amount.