After nearly two years in county jail, Reginald Powell—the man charged with murder in connection with a local Mamaroneck mother's death—will appear in White Plains court tomorrow for the first day of his jury trial in front of Judge James Hubert.
Jennifer Katz, a 49-year-old PTA mother of two girls, was found dead in her Baldwin Place home on Dec. 30, 2010.
Powell was identified as a person of interest early on when police caught him driving Katz's car with some of her jewelry in his possession the night she was found dead, but was not formally charged until June 2011.
Powell later pled not guilty in White Plains court to eight felony charges including first and second degree murder, second degree burglary, two counts each of third degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a controlled substance as well as a seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charge, a misdemeanor. The charges could result in a maximum sentence of life in prison.
By all accounts, Katz was a loving and kind mother and active member of the community. Katz knew Powell from her ex-boyfriend, Warren Powell, who is Reginald's brother; Reginald occasionally did odd jobs at her home.
Prior to his arrest, Reginald served time for fatally shooting a cab driver in the face in New Rochelle in 1982. He was paroled in 2008 after being denied in 2004 and 2006, when his brother, Bishop Wayne Powell of Strait Gate Church in Mamaroneck, campaigned for his release.
