WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — The trial of a former University of Maine football player accused of killing a man and attempting to kill his former girlfriend is set to start later this month.
Zedric Joseph’s trial is scheduled to begin April 25 at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach with jury selection.
Joseph, who will turn 26 before the trial starts, remains in jail on charges of first-degree murder with a weapon, attempted second-degree murder with a weapon, and burglary while armed in connection with a violent knife attack March 7, 2014, that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Ricardy Chery and injury of Vashti Laurore.
The defense filed a motion last month seeking to suppress statements that Joseph made to a police detective after his arrest. Judge Dina Keever has scheduled that hearing to be held April 26.
Laurore told police 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. Joseph then told the victim he was going to die and was going to “learn.”
Joseph allegedly ordered Laurore and Chery to get on their knees on the floor and began kicking Chery in the abdomen and spitting on him. Laurore 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 before he left.
Laurore and Joseph had been in a relationship for about five years and had one child together.
In 2012, Joseph was accused of attacking Laurore while they lived together in Orono with their daughter and her son from a prior relationship. UMaine police arrested Joseph on charges of domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening and misdemeanor assault on Dec. 17, 2012, after Laurore told officers Joseph 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. He returned to the football field the next season.
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.