Holmes waives hearing in NL murder case

The family of shooting victim Jorge “Loco” Rosa went to court this morning in anticipation of learning more about the way he died.

They left a short time later without any news after Evan J. Holmes, accused of gunning down Rosa in his bedroom, waived his right to an evidentiary hearing. Holmes, who is accused of murder, home invasion, first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit murder, had the right to compel the state to present its case against him at a probable cause hearing. After speaking with his attorney, William T. Koch Jr., Holmes decided to forgo the hearing and plead not guilty.

Bridgette Feliciano, mother of Rosa, had prepared herself to hear “things that are going to hurt me.” After learning the hearing would not go forward, she said she would just have to wait for more information.

Holmes, 20, and Davion Smith, 18, are accused of forcing their way into Rosa’s apartment at 252 Montauk Avenue on Nov. 12, 2011 and accosting the 25-year-old Rosa as he slept. His girlfriend told police that Holmes, her ex-boyfriend, fired two or three shots at Rosa before the two men fled the apartment.

Rosa suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, torso and genitals. Holmes was arrested hours later at an Old Saybrook motel. Davion remains at large. Rosa’s mother said she would like to see him apprehended because “he is the other key to the truth.”

Holmes’ case was continued to March 29 and he was sent back to the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Institution, where he is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $650,000.

Nine days before the shooting, Holmes had been released from prison after serving an 18 month sentence for shooting another man in the foot.