After winning appeal, NJ man sentenced again for killing ex-wife

ELIZABETH — A Roselle man who had his 2009 conviction for killing his ex-wife tossed on appeal has been sentenced again, but will serve fewer years behind bars than his original sentence.

Ademir Ramalho, 64, of Roselle, admitted killing Lucia Emeliano, 51, by stabbing her four times with a kitchen knife outside her Adams Street home in Elizabeth on July 23, 2006.

After he was tried and convicted in 2009, an appellate court panel overturned his conviction and his 50-year prison sentence because the trial judge did not properly instruct the jury to consider evidence of the man's mental health problems.

Earlier this year, however, Ramalho pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, sparing a new trial and avoiding a prison term that likely would have left him locked up until death.

Although he faced up to 30 years on the plea deal, a Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced the former restaurant owner to 27 years in prison.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.