Prosecution and defense rest in trial of man accused of killing Sayreville councilwoman
Rashid Bynum is accused of fatally shooting Eustance Dwumfour in February 2023.
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The man accused of killing a Sayreville councilwoman told the judge presiding over his murder trial that he would not take the stand and testify on his own behalf.
That decision was announced as both the state and defense rested their case against Rashid Bynum. That means the closing arguments will be heard on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the state allowed jurors to hear from experts in ballistics and DNA as their final two witnesses. One testified that Bynum’s DNA was found on the Glock 19, which was discovered by police under the bed of Bynum’s girlfriend Kelsy Henley.
Police say that the gun was used to fatally shoot Eunice Dwumfour on Feb. 1, 2023.
Jurors were also shown markings on bullets recovered from Dwumfour’s body, which a detective with the New Jersey State Police testified were a match to that handgun.
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“They were all compared microscopically against test bullets and identified as having been discharged from the submitted pistol,” said New Jersey State Police Detective Sgt. Edward Buren.
On cross-examination, the defense tried to raise doubt that Bynum pulled the trigger by pointing out to jurors that his DNA was not the only DNA found on the weapon.
Defense Attorney Michael Ashley asked if any item tested only had Bynum’s DNA on it.
Forensic DNA Analyst Frank Basile said, “In other words, were there any items that had single source profiles that were possibly associated with Mr. Bynum’s? No, there were no samples like that.”
The defense did not put up any witnesses to testify before resting its case.
Once the closing arguments are complete, Judge Joseph Paone will charge the jury and they will then start deliberating.
