A Newark man has been sentenced to nine years in state prison for fatally stabbing Elizabeth resident Marckenson Flobert in 2012, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Saint Merilan, 26, will be required to serve at least 85 percent of that term before the possibility of parole, according to terms set down Friday by state Superior Court Judge Robert J. Mega. Following a two-week trial held last month, a Union County jury returned guilty verdicts against Merilan on a charge of reckless manslaughter and two weapons offenses.
The date was August 3, 2012 when Merilan drove his daughter to the 300 block of Chestnut Street in Elizabeth to drop her off at the girl’s mother’s home, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Scott M. Peterson, who prosecuted the case. Merilan was still waiting in his vehicle when the woman arrived home with her boyfriend, the 25-year-old Flobert, a short while later, Peterson said.
An exchange of words turned violent, and following a brief scuffle Merilan emerged from his car with a knife and stabbed Flobert multiple times, killing him, according to Peterson. He was arrested the same day.