GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The teenager charged in a Green Bay east-side murder wants his case moved to juvenile court.
Araylius Cornelius, 16, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the June 22 murder of Emerald Metoxen on Deckner Avenue. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life prison term.
In Wisconsin, those ages 10-16 facing most homicide-related counts are initially charged in adult court. The defense is asking for the case to be moved to juvenile court, but that is not granted automatically, and must be approved by a judge.
A status conference is scheduled for Oct. 29. The so-called ‘reverse waiver’ request is not expected to be addressed at that time, but rather scheduled for a later date.
According to the brief filed with the court, defense attorney Nicole Morley argues juvenile court is more suitable venue for the case.
“Araylius moves the Court to hold a hearing on this matter at which time the Defendant would bear the burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that: 1) if convicted, Araylius could not receive adequate treatment in the criminal justice system; 2) transferring jurisdiction would not depreciate the seriousness of the offense; and 3) retaining jurisdiction is not necessary to deter the child or other children from committing the alleged violation,” the motion states.
Prosecutors have yet to reply to the motion.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the 2400 block of Deckner Avenue at about 1:45 a.m. for a report of a shooting. Metoxen, 18, died at the scene of a gunshot wound to the chest, and another male, 17, was injured by gunfire.
A witness told police that Metoxen was going to fight another male, and then Cornelius shot Metoxen.
About two weeks after the shooting, police interviewed Cornelius, who denied shooting Metoxen.
