Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Sadat Council, 31, of Newark had been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Anthony Mayse, 32, also of Newark, by the Honorable Richard T. Sales, Judge of the Superior Court.
Under the No Early Release Act, Council will have to serve at least 63 years and nine months before he becomes eligible for parole, according to Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells, who tried the case.
On Feb. 2, 2017, Council was convicted of April 28, 2015, a murder of Mayse at Stephen Crane Village. The victim and the defendant got into a fistfight before the murder that was broken up by bystanders.
Council rode away on a bicycle to retrieve a gun, then returned a moment later and fatally shot Mayse. In addition to being convicted of first-degree murder, Council was also found guilty of possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Council has seven prior felony convictions as an adult, including five prior convictions for acts of violence, Assistant Prosecutor Wells said.
“This defendant has demonstrated time and again that he is incapable of living in a civilized society,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Wells. “He is beyond rehabilitation. The best we can do at this point is lock him up for the rest of his life to keep the public safe.’’
Assistant Prosecutor Wells thanked Det. Bruce Branch and the rest of the Essex County Homicide Task force for their hard work investigating this murder, and also applauded the courage and conviction of the civilian witnesses who saw that justice was done for Mayse’ family.