Howell Man Agrees to 15 Years for Friend’s Stabbing Death

A Howell 26-year-old can expect to spend up to 15 years in prison for a friend's stabbing death after an argument in June 2010.

Julius K. Garrett pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter last Friday in connection with the death of Scott Gregory, 24, also of the township, in the late-night hours after a party, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Grammiccioni.

Under terms of the Early Release Act, Garrett will be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence, or just over 13 years, before parole eligibility. He's housed in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold, with bail set at $1,000,000.

Investigators say that Gregory and Garrett walked to a party in the late hours of June 19 into the hours after midnight June 20. A scuffle between them left both with minor head injuries and broke up the party.

Authorities say that Gregory began walking home along Fort Plains Road with a male friend while three girls at the party drove Gregory to his brother's house in the township.

According to the report, Garrett, his brother and the three females climbed into the car and headed down Fort Plains Road, pulling up to the spot where Gregory and his companion were walking. A second fight ensued, say investigators, despite Garrett's brother's attempt to stop it. Garrett was accused of stabbing Gregory in the chest and in the back, then leaving.

Howell Township police answering a 911 call found Gregory's lifeless body on the roadside aroud 4:06 AM. He did not respond to resuscitation efforts by police and township first-aiders, and was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor within 30 minutes.

Results of his autopsy concluded that Gregory died as a result of the two stab wounds.