Gowdy Murder Trial Set

To Begin In March

By Andrew Gorosko

Jury selection in the trial of two men charged with the July 1999 murder of 15-year-old Jason Gowdy is scheduled to start in late March, according to a state prosecutor.

Assistant State’s Attorney Devin Stilson said Tuesday jury selection is slated to begin March 27 in Danbury Superior Court.

Judge Patrick Carroll in September 1999 ruled the state had shown there is enough evidence for prosecutors to pursue felony murder charges against the two men in connection with Jason Gowdy’s violent death in Sandy Hook on  Saturday, July 10, 1999.

Alejandro Melendez of Bridgeport and Roberto Lugo, a/k/a Ruperto Lugo, of  Stratford are defendants in the case. Each man was 19 years old when charged. Lugo and Melendez each are charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. Police filed the charges against the men three days after the murder, following an intensive investigation. The felony murder charge carries a sentence of life in prison.

Lugo, now 20, and Melendez, now 21, each are being held on $1 million bonds at the state Department of Correction’s (DOC) Walker Reception and Special Management Unit in Suffield, a DOC spokeswoman said.

Mr Stilson said he expects jury selection will take one or two weeks. The trial of the two men, which would follow immediately, would take a maximum of two weeks, the prosecutor said.

Mr Stilson said a single trial will be held to try the charges against the two men.

Lugo is represented by private attorney Gary Mastronardi.

Melendez is represented by public defender Paul Eschuk.

Mr Stilson, who is an assistant state’s attorney in Litchfield Superior Court, will prosecute the case in Danbury Superior Court, where he had worked as a prosecutor when the murder occurred.

Jason Gowdy of Sandy Hook and two of his friends had been walking along Riverside Road near Cherry Street about 9 pm July 10, 1999, when they were approached by Lugo, who had traveled there in a Chevrolet Beretta with several friends.

Lugo, who was a passenger in the car, got out of it and approached the three boys, police have said.

A brief confrontation ensued and Lugo then allegedly shot Jason twice in the head.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps rushed Jason to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:28 pm.

The following Tuesday, police charged Lugo, and Melendez, who was the driver of the car.

Jason Gowdy had lived with his father, David Gowdy, with Mr Gowdy’s wife, and with his two stepsisters at 21 Pine Street.