Morristown jury hears opposing versions in opening of James Zarate murder trial:

Prosecutor: Younger Zarate helped kill teen neighbor:

Opening arguments were heard today in the trial of James Zarate. James is the brother of Jonathan Zarate who was convicted in the July 2005 murder and dismemberment of Jennifer Parks in Randolph, New Jersey.

In their opening argument, the prosecution alleged that Jennifer’s murder was two years in the making and that James Zarate was the one who planned the murder as an act of revenge. Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Lane also said that a coroner will testify that Jennifer was still alive when she was dismembered and that when Jonathan Zarate was punching Jennifer that James Zarate sprung from the closet and began stabbing Jennifer.

James Zarate’s defense attorney, Joseph Ferrante, claims that the only crime the younger Zarate is guilty of is helping his brother of trying to dump Jennifer’s body into the Passaic River.

The alleged motive for the murder was that Jennifer had previously gotten James Zarate in trouble at school for him bullying her.

Ferrante dismisses this…

“Revenge, for something two years earlier? For that? Murder? Dismemberment? Please. Stephen King didn’t write this.”

How does the old saying go? Truth is stranger than fiction.

Jennifer’s mother, Laurie Parks also testified today saying that James Zarate once threw a brick through her car window. That was in 2003 when James Zarate was 12. I think that goes a long way to showing the younger Zarate’s tendency for violence.

Defense attorney Ferrante also said…

“Don’t prejudge my client because of the horror of this crime.”

I agree. Wait for all the testimony than you can judge him because of the horror of this crime.