Judge cuts sentence for convicted murder conspirator

BRIDGEPORT — A Superior Court judge Tuesday agreed to cut the sentence for a local man convicted of being the getaway driver in the 2015 fatal shooting at a city restaurant.

Judge Alex Hernandez cut two years off the seven-year prison term being served by Gregory Hughes — who had recently been treated in prison for COVID-19 — allowing Hughes to become immediately eligible for parole, according to Hughes’ lawyer, Public Defender Joseph Bruckmann.

“The disposition was fair and appropriate but there has been a change in circumstances and Mr. Hughes deserves the credit for that,” the judge said.

Prosecutors did not object to the reduction.

In April 2017, Hughes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the July 26, 2015, fatal shooting of 33-year-old Derrick Hill. Hill, an employee of the Rootsman Kitchen on Park Avenue, was shot to death as he left the restaurant about 6:30 p.m. that day.

Hughes was sentenced to 15 years suspended after seven years in prison followed by five years’ probation.

Police claimed Hughes had been the getaway driver in the crime. The shooter was never identified.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Bruckmann told the judge Hughes has been in isolation in the prison since being diagnosed with COVID-19 in June. He said Hughes recently learned his 16year-old son had allegedly become suicidal and that his mother had lost her home.

Bruckmann said his client has availed himself of a number of programs in prison and has no record of discipline there.

“I’m just trying to get back to my mother and my son,” Hughes told the judge on video from the courthouse lockup. “My son needs me, and I can’t do anything for him if I am in jail.”

For a person serving a criminal sentence of three years or more to have a sentence modification hearing, the state’s attorney must agree to the hearing, although he is not required to agree to the actual modification.

While declining to comment specifically on Hughes’ motion, Bridgeport State’s Attorney Joseph T. Corradino stated: “We give each application individual consideration and consider a variety of factors, including the nature of the offense, the sentence imposed, the position of the victim, the defendant’s progress toward rehabilitation and numerous others. No single factor is dispositive.”.