Idris Elahi Enters Plea In Murder Of Matthew Chew
18-year-old, one of six defendants in fatal 2010 stabbing in New London, takes state offer to serve 35 years in prison
An 18-year-old man has entered the first plea in the 2010 murder of a young chef and DJ.
Idris Elahi, of 20 Home Street, entered an Alford plea to murder on Wednesday in the New London Superior Court. The action changes his former not guilty plea and accepts a state offer to serve 35 years in prison.
Elahi is one of six defendants charged with involvement in the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Matthew Chew as he was walking from his workplace at 2 Wives Pizza to his Huntington Street apartment on the evening of Oct. 30, 2010.
The Alford plea means that Elahi does not agree with the entirety of the state allegations but recognizes that the state would be likely to prevail at trial. His attorney, Bruce McIntyre, said Elahi disagreed with language in the charge saying that he intended to cause death.
Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Carney said Chew’s parents were not notified of Elahi’s agreement to take the offer. They were contacted on Wednesday morning and informed their immediate family. Carney said Chew’s family was not in full agreement with the sentence, but did not wish to have the proceedings delayed so they could appear in person.
“I’m not in the position to say the family endorses the agreement,” said Carney. “In fact, quite the opposite is true.”
The state has also charged 18-year-old Marquis Singleton with murder while Tyree Bundy, 19, has been charged with accessory to murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Also charged in the case are 18-year-old Matias Perry, 18-year-old Rashad Perry (no relation), and 19-year-old Brian Rabell, all of whom are accused of accessory to murder.
At his probable cause hearing last year, three of Elahi’s co-defendants said the group met at Elahi’s house and decided to assault a random person after they became bored. Rabell and Singleton said Rashad dared Elahi to stab someone and that Elahi and Rashad started to make an oath, but that Rabell and Bundy stopped them.
Rabell said he thought Elahi was hitting Chew in the stomach, and that Bundy later told him that Elahi had stabbed Chew. Bundy said Elahi tried to give him a folding knife after the incident. Singleton said he saw Elahi leave with the knife but did not realize that Chew had been killed until the next morning.
Carney said Chew was stabbed six times and suffered two cuts in the face as well. He was spotted by a passerby near 2 Wives after he collapsed while walking back toward the restaurant. He was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and died early the next morning after being flown to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
A murder conviction in Connecticut is punishable by 25 years to life in prison, with life being defined as 60 years. The state offer of 35 years to serve means Elahi would not be eligible to serve a reduced or partial sentence.
Judge Patrick J. Clifford ordered a pre-sentence report and set the date for the official sentencing on May 23.
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In This article
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State of Connecticut Superior Court - New London Judicial District
70 Huntington St, New London, CT -
2 Wives Brick Oven Pizza
45 Huntington St, New London, CT -
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Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
342 Montauk Ave, New London, CT
Alphonse DeLachance
12:46 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
NOT LONG ENOUGH! What will the other hoodlums get? These kids are a product of the New London School system, These kids attended the high school while City Councilor Anthony Nolan was the High School resource officer. This young man and his gang have shown that they have no respect for their community, life or each other. I hope that they are pleased that their acts of boredom landed at least one of them so far in jail for 35 years. The death penalty would have served the community well in this situation. I feel bad for the parents and family of this young man I am sure they raised him to be better than this. New Londoners need to be very cautious when they see these groups of kids on our streets.
Susan Donovan
7:54 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Two of my sons graduated from NLHS and I am proud of who and what they are. You feel bad for their parents who "raised him better than this" yet blame New London High School and Officer Nolan?? I hope to God that you don't have children Mr. DeLachance.
Patrick Herring
1:04 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
By entering a plea, he is finally accepting his guilt (or his fate). Hope it will serve as an example for any "wandering" youths out there, that this kind of action will never be accepted or condoned.
A tragedy for all families involved. He will serve a large portion of this 35 years behind bar. He will be further broken when he gets out, middle age and no skills, more likely to commit some kinds of crimes and possibly will spend more time in jail afterwards. One more life is wasted.............
Ken
1:19 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
There is nothing in this world today that "would have served the community well in this situation."
NewLondonSource
2:40 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
@ Alphonse: "These kids are a product of the New London School system"
Wrong, these kids are the products of their parents. Any attempt to attach blame to NLPS is fruitless and baseless - unless you feel the school system is responsible for youth's actions OUTSIDE of the school premises. If that was the case, I think I'd have to question your ability to reason rationally.
The school system should not and can not afford to be tasked with baby sitting and disciplining bad behaviors - this is a parent's job, that is, if the parents care enough. Unfortunately, many New London parents treat the school this way and then we all wonder why many of them don't have a positive attitude towards learning.
Varnaud
12:14 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wrong again! These children are no different than a child who grows up in Mystic or East Lyme, or Canada for that matter. Who are you to judge the school system or their parents. I am a product of the NL school system, and I turned out okay, as did most other people. By the way, I know the parents of three of these kids, and none of them raised their children to act this way, any more than you raised your children to act this way! Please, if you offer an opinion, make sure you know all the facts!
NewLondonSource
6:44 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Opinion:
o·pin·ion/əˈpinyən/
Noun:
A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
The beliefs or views of a large number or majority of people about a particular thing.
@Varnaud: Wrong again....again? I guess according to the dictionary, offering an opinion isn't entirely predicated on knowing all the facts.
Regardless, my statement still holds true - you can't blame NLPS for the missteps of every youth in New London - especially if those actions occur outside of school property.
You know the parents? Good for you. Not sure if you were expecting that to bolster your argument or not...
Rick Lushay
1:17 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
These punks did spend formative years under the guidance of the NLPS and the staff of the NLPS.
John Lynch
6:00 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
How about stopping the double standard. Where was the NAACP and Hewitt when the White kid gets killed by black that were board. They come out of the wood work when a black guy doesn't get a job with the FD.
Thomas Cornick
6:34 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Had Matthew been armed (which was not his nature) and killed one or more of his assailants you would have heard from the NAACP loud, long, and continuously.
Maryann
8:55 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Finally, someone with a worthy comment. We need a NAAWP - that would be for white people!!!!!!!
Varnaud
12:46 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
The NAACP is for ALL people. Yes, white is a color too! The problem arises when the powers that be, white people, fail to realize that there is still systemic discrimination towards non-white people. By the way, the NAACP was helped into existence by Jewish people.
Christine Rene-Howard
5:00 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Without the NAACP there would still be systemic slavery...oh, wait, there still is!
NewLondonSource
6:39 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Well that comment certainly deserves a big WTF....where does 'systemic slavery' still exist in the US of A?
Michael Casteel
9:45 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Why should society spend several million dollars to keep this animal alive and imprisoned? What kind of monster will he be after spending 35 years in our broken prison system? We need to impose the death penalty on those who have forfeited their right to live through their heinous behavior. Sociopaths and Psychopaths are not redeemable. At the same time we need to change our prison system to offer a genuine chance of redemption and useful post prison life to those who are saveable.
I am very distressed to see he was allowed to plead to an Alford doctrine deal. Nonsense. Part of any deal should have been that he plead guilty. More lazy, incompetent Prosecutors. And he should never leave prison. Anyone want to take odds on the likelihood he kills again when released at 53?
Varnaud
12:47 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
I'll take that bet!
Varnaud
12:49 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
By the way, Mike, you ARE wrong again. NL was 40% black in the 60's, but 90% of the crime was committed by whites.
cyclist
4:24 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
This sentence is not a deterrent to the already broken souls that room the streets of NL or any other street for that matter. People...when you are out and about arm yourself with the knowledge that these animals are out there. Be aware at all times. Carry some sort of protection and be ready to use it