Grand Jury Back on Irish Pub Murder

Published June 3, 2009

An Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted a Newark man on multiple counts including murder and aggravated assault for killing one Irish Pub worker in March and seriously injuring another worker who were attempting to break up a fight, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced Wednesday.

Luis Martinez, 25, also was indicted on counts of hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, First Assistant Prosecutor Murray Talasnik, who presented the case to the Grand Jury Wednesday afternoon, said.

It is alleged that on March 21 at 4:43 a.m. Richard Rivera, a 27-year-old bartender from Ventnor Avenue in Ventnor, died of a stab wound to the heart when he and Richard Kutch, a 27-year-old bouncer, of Atlantic City, attempted to break up a fight inside the bar. Kutch suffered a stab wound to the left side of his body. He was hospitalized and released two days after the attack.

Members of the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were called to the pub located on St. James Place in Atlantic City at 5:10 a.m. for a report of a disturbance. Martinez was arrested at the scene and charged with the crimes.

Martinez remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending further proceedings in lieu of $750,000 full cash bail.