Jury starts deliberations in aggravated assault trial of Atlantic City mayor
MAYS LANDING, N.J. (WPVI) -- The fate of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. is now in the hands of a 12-person jury after more than three hours of closing arguments in his aggravated assault trial.
Jurors began deliberations at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday in Superior Court in Mays Landing. The courtroom was full, with an overflow room opened to accommodate interest in the case.
Small is accused of beating his daughter with a broom in January 2024, knocking her unconscious and later threatening her. He faces charges including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and witness tampering.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Elizabeth Fischer recapped the state's evidence, showing photos of the daughter's injuries and playing recordings of screaming matches among family members.
READ MORE | Atlantic City mayor testifies in assault trial, denies abusing daughter
Prosecutors alleged a pattern of abuse and highlighted text messages between the victim and her boyfriend, including, "I don't feel safe here, my dad knocked me out ... to the point I passed out."
Prosecutors also emphasized that three days passed before the teen was taken to a hospital and said she was never left alone while there, arguing Small wanted to control the narrative.
Last week, Small took the stand in his own defense, breaking down in tears as he described his relationship with his daughter and denied the allegations.
"Don't let my size fool you. I'm a gentle giant. I wouldn't hurt anyone, let alone my own child," Small testified. He told jurors he is 6-foot-4 and about 260 pounds.
Small said he and his daughter were "inseparable" until she was 15 and testified that their relationship changed after she began dating a boyfriend he disapproved of.
He said she became withdrawn and violent and described an incident when he said she made stabbing motions toward him with a butter knife while he tried to get her to attend a community event.
Small testified that she picked up a broom and came toward him, and that he was defending himself when she fell backward, hit her head and lost consciousness.
Defense attorneys Louis Barbone and Jordan Barbone argued that Small did not physically abuse his daughter and that this is a case of teenage rebellion.
If found guilty of a third-degree charge or higher, Small would be required to step down from his post as mayor. He was reelected earlier this year.
His wife, the superintendent of Atlantic City Public Schools, is also facing charges for not reporting this alleged abuse and is scheduled to be tried separately next month.
