Trenton woman accused of setting car fire said man tried to murder her
TRENTON >> A city woman suspected of torching a roommate’s car had almost been killed by a city man who she apparently had issues with, her attorney said Tuesday.
Stephanie Joshua, 33, formerly of Neptune, was charged with arson after lighting up a Ford Explorer on the 200 block of Cleveland Avenue on Oct. 21.
She mistakenly believed the vehicle belonged to a 53-year-old man who allegedly tried to kill her earlier in the day.
Public defender Kathleen Redpath-Perez said her client has battered women’s syndrome.
Joshua got a restraining order, called police and reported the “attempted murder” prior to the arson, but got the shrug off from cops, her attorney said.
The Ford Explorer belonged to Joshua’s 34-year-old female roommate, police said, not the man who apparently tried to snuff her out.
Police said the 53-yearold also lived in the same home as Joshua, though his relationship to the car owner was unclear.
The man primarily drove the vehicle, police said.
Police said Joshua purchased gas prior to the fire. Detectives recovered a gas container she allegedly used in the blaze.
Joshua has a prior felony conviction for endangering and was on probation for a year. She is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.