New Brunswick, NJ — Rashid Ali Bynum, a 31-year-old man from Portsmouth, Virginia, was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the fatal shooting of Eunice Dwumfour, a New Jersey pastor and Sayreville councilwoman. The sentencing took place in a county courtroom filled with the victim’s family and friends.
Details of the Murder
On February 1, 2023, Dwumfour, 30, was ambushed as she arrived at her apartment complex in Sayreville, New Jersey. She was shot 14 times while sitting in her vehicle. Authorities say Bynum, who had once lived with Dwumfour and her child, returned to the Sayreville home and killed her. Prosecutors have not confirmed the motive for the murder.
“She was a beloved community member, and this senseless act has left a void that cannot be filled,” said a prosecutor during the trial.
Background on the Victim and the Relationship with Bynum
Dwumfour, who was deeply involved in Champions Royal Assembly, a Nigerian church, had also married a fellow pastor in Abuja, Nigeria, just weeks before her death. According to prosecutors, Bynum was initially recruited into the church and Bible study group Fire Congress Fellowship by Dwumfour when they both lived in Virginia. He later moved to Sayreville but eventually returned to Virginia after a falling out with the church.
“The relationship soured, and he chose to end his connection to both her and the church,” authorities added in their investigation.
Appeal Plans and Legal Defense
Bynum’s lawyer, Michael Ashley, confirmed that an appeal of the murder and weapons convictions is planned. However, Ashley has stated that there was no direct evidence linking Bynum to the shooting, despite the jury convicting him in June after a month-long trial.
“We are confident that the evidence will show he was not directly involved in the shooting,” Ashley told reporters after the trial.
This sentencing marks the end of a tragic case that has left the community mourning the loss of a dedicated pastor and councilwoman.
For more details, read the original report on AP News.
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