Police Searching for Murder Defendant Mistakenly Freed from Jail

A defendant in the 2010 shooting death of a Newark woman was mistakenly released from the Essex County jail, Nj.com reported Tuesday.

Ismael Scott failed to appear alongside two other defendants Tuesday, the fourth day of their trial for the murder of Hope Williams, 33, who was struck by crossfire during a barbecue on Garside Street June 19, 2010.  

Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan discovered that a bail determination on the murder charge had never been made for Scott, who was also jailed on a separate parole violation. County jail officials released Scott after receiving notice from the state that Scott had served sufficient time on the parole violation, but no one had checked to see if there were any other charges pending, Ryan was quoted saying.

The Newark Police Department's fugitive unit is now searching for Scott, Nj.com also reported.