Alleged murderer guilty on subsequent charges

Paul Connolly gets 30-days concurrent for prison assault

Paul Connolly, one of four men charged in the murder of Steven Miller last year, was sentenced for unrelated charges on Friday.

On Jan. 1 of this year, while serving time at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s, he punched another inmate in the back of the head, unprovoked, hard enough that the inmate fell to the ground. The inmate didn’t have any lasting injuries.

Connolly was charged with one count of assault and one count of breaching a court order.

He pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to 30 days concurrent for each of the charges, to be served consecutive to other time he’s serving.

Connolly, 37, is one of four men charged in connection with a stabbing death of 25-year-old Steven Miller last year in Conception Bay South.

All four were charged with first-degree murder, but the other three have since pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Connolly is the only one still charged with first-degree murder.

He is also charged with forcible confinement, robbery and arson for that incident.

A trial date has been set for November 2018, however, his lawyers Mark Gruchy and Jeff Brace said they may re-evaluate his not-guilty plea depending on the sentencing of his co-accused, Chesley Lucas and Calvin Kenny.

They are back in court Oct. 26.