Man Gets 30-Year Prison Term in Nephew's Slaying

A 75-year-old southern New Jersey man has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison for the fatal shooting of his nephew.

A Cape May County jury had convicted Frederick Marr on murder, weapons and hindering apprehension charges in September. The counts stemmed from the August 2010 shooting of Ronald Denny.

Cape May County prosecutors have said Marr, a Lower Township resident, drove his pickup truck to his nephew's Middle Township home and shot Denny once in the throat with a .45-caliber handgun. He then drove away and soon fled to Florida, but was arrested days later.

Family members say Denny and his uncle were quarreling over a Florida property they owned.

Marr will not be eligible for parole, but will receive credit for the more than four years he served while awaiting trial. He has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal his conviction.

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Denny's daughter and sister were among those who attended Friday's sentencing hearing in Cape May Court House.

"I thought knowing you will rot and die in prison will bring some ease, but it doesn't," Denny's daughter, Kristy Hegarty, told Marr before the sentence was handed down. "All who loved him will have to go on without him. I wish you all the worst in the world."