WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — A state judge agreed Thursday to allow a former University of Maine football player — awaiting trial for murder and attempted murder — to have his mother and grandmother visit him for the holiday.
But at the request of the prosecution, the visit will be videotaped to prevent Zedric Joseph from passing along any threats to intimidate his former girlfriend, Vashti Laurore, whom he is accused of trying to kill.
Joseph is charged with first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and burglary while armed in connection with a violent knife attack on March 7 that caused the death of 23-year-old Ricardy Chery and injured Laurore.
In paperwork filed in court by the Florida state attorney’s office last month, prosecutors argued that while imprisoned awaiting trial, Joseph had given seven hand-written letters to another inmate at the Palm Beach County Jail. The other inmate was allegedly instructed by Joseph to give the letters to Laurore as soon as the inmate got out of jail.
Instead, the inmate informed the state and handed over the letters.
In the letters, Joseph allegedly wrote that Laurore should go back to police and tell them that she lied when she said he was the person who attacked her and Chery. He also allegedly explained that she could tell police she felt pressured to implicate Joseph and that she was scared and confused when she said he had done it.
Joseph allegedly wrote that if police charged Laurore with giving a false statement, she would likely only get probation because she has no criminal record.
Because of those letters, the court approved a request by the state on Nov. 14 to revoke Joseph’s right to have visitors, to make calls or to send out letters to anyone other than his attorney.
But in a motion filed Dec. 11, public defender Carey Haughwout argued that it was extremely unhealthy for his client, Joseph, to be cut off from his family and that a visit on Christmas Eve or Christmas was important.
Joseph was arrested in Georgia five days after the knife attack and extradited to Florida on June 4. He has been held in jail in West Palm Beach since.
No trial date has been set. Another hearing in the case, known as a status check, is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2015, at which time a trial date could be scheduled.
Laurore told police that she and Chery were in the bedroom of her locked apartment when Joseph broke through the bedroom door holding a knife. He immediately and without provocation began stabbing Chery, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.
Chery rolled off the bed in an attempt to get away and begged Joseph to stop stabbing him, according to the affidavit. Joseph then told the victim he was going to die and he was going to “learn,” according to the affidavit.
Joseph allegedly ordered both Laurore and Chery to get on their knees on the floor, and he began kicking Chery in the abdomen and spitting on him, police reported. The woman begged Joseph to stop, but he put the knife against her throat and told her she was going to “die today,” according to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s report.
She grabbed the knife to pull it away, and Joseph allegedly cut her severely in the thumb and palm of her left hand. He subsequently left, police said.
Both Laurore and Chery were taken to a local hospital where Chery was pronounced dead.
Laurore and Joseph had been in a relationship for about five years and had one child together.
Joseph had been accused of attacking Laurore before, when they lived together with her son and their child in Orono in 2012. UMaine police arrested Joseph on charges of domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening and misdemeanor assault on Dec. 17, 2012, after Laurore — whose name is spelled Vasthi Laurori in Maine court documents — told officers that Joseph had tried to strangle her twice and threatened to kill her in a jealous rage.
Joseph took a plea bargain on a disorderly conduct charge, for which he spent 48 hours in jail. He also was suspended from the school and the football team on an interim basis after the 2012 incident, according to UMaine officials, but returned to the football field the next season.
After being named a suspect in the West Palm Beach stabbings, Joseph was suspended again on March 8 from UMaine, where he was studying child development and family relations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.