Sussex judge issues life sentences to men who killed Army soldier, dumped body in woods

NEWTON — A Sussex County judge handed down a life sentence Friday to two men found guilty of murdering U.S. Army corporal Hayden Harris and dumping the 20-year-old's body in the woods of Byram Township in 2020.

Jamaal Mellish, a former soldier who served with Harris at Fort Drum in upstate New York, also received 30-year terms for carjacking and kidnapping, 10 years for unlawful possession of a weapon and five years for hindering apprehension, all to be served concurrently. Under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, he must serve at least 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Hannan Aiken, a Mellish accomplice also convicted in the murder, received the same set of sentences from state Superior Court Judge Michael Gaus. In a brief statement prior to his sentencing, he took "full responsibility" for his role in the death of Harris.

"My actions haunt me every day, and I know they haunt the (Harris) family too," said Aiken, who otherwise appeared emotionless with his head down for most of the proceedings. "I know the family is not likely to forgive me, but I want it to be known that I'm truly sorry."

Mellish did not address the court and, like his co-defendant, showed little emotion throughout the afternoon.

Harris, a Tennessee native stationed at Fort Drum, was found dead a week before Christmas Day in 2020 near a cul-de-sac in Byram after what authorities said was a car swap gone sour between the two soldiers.

Prosecutors said Mellish and Aiken fatally shot Harris on the cul-de-sac early on the morning of Dec. 18, 2020, after kidnapping him near the Army base in northern New York. Harris is believed to have met with Mellish to get back a Mustang he had previously traded, when Mellish had actually sold the vehicle months earlier.

Courtney Harris, the victim's older sister, remembered her brother Friday as "the most kind-hearted, generous and caring person" who messaged her every day while he was in the Army. She lamented the fact that the first time she saw Hayden in uniform was not at Fort Drum, but in a casket at his funeral.

Harris wondered why Mellish and Aiken chose to kill her brother, noting that both had plenty of chances to turn the car around during their four-and-a-half-hour trip to northern New Jersey.

"Vehicles can be replaced and rebought. A life cannot," she said as her hands trembled and voice wavered during her statement. "My brother was only 20 years old, but he wasn't given a second chance to live."

The life sentences matched what the prosecution had requested, arguing the killing was planned and exploited Harris' trust in a fellow soldier.

"The court should show Mr. Mellish the same amount of compassion and mercy that Mr. Mellish showed Hayden Harris − no more, no less − which is nothing," said Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Sahil Kabse.

Aiken's attorney, Thomas Militano, asked Gaus to consider his client's age at the time (16) and his history of mental health issues. He also claimed that Mellish forced him to take part in the murder and that he did so fearing for his own safety.

Aiken's sister, Talia, said her brother had a difficult upbringing in which he lacked a male role model. She believes Hannan Aiken was "manipulated" by Mellish into joining him the night of Harris' murder, and he did so because he finally had someone to look up to.

"I know he's only in this position because his heart is too big," Talia Aiken said.

But Kabse said the idea of Aiken being an unwilling participant "is simply not supported by the evidence," which includes Harris' blood on his clothing and a video of him brandishing a gun the night he and Mellish kidnapped Harris. Aiken, he noted, has also been involved in three separate assaults in jail while awaiting trial.

"He is the same person as Jamaal Mellish," Kabse said, "and he should receive the same sentence."

Mellish and Aiken were convicted on 11 counts, including murder, kidnapping, carjacking and unlawful possession of a weapon, following a five-week trial that concluded June 28. The trial featured more than 350 pieces of evidence and 22 witnesses called to the stand, according to the prosecutor's office.

Cellphone data showed Mellish and Aiken were on Ross Road in Byram, where Harris' body was found, shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 18 after driving from the Fort Drum area the night before. Mellish was 23 at the time of the killing.

Gaus said Harris' impact was evident through his sister's statement along with numerous letters his friends and loved ones sent to the court. The messages spoke of his strong faith, commitment to help others and determination to succeed at whatever he did.

"He was raised by this entire community as we all hope children should be raised - committed to his God, his country, his family and his friends," Gaus said − a stark contrast, he added, to the "callous, heartless, ruthless and uncaring" behavior from his killers.

Courtney Harris said she prayed for Mellish and Aiken that "my brother's face is the only face you see when you close your eyes." Although she knows Hayden Harris' last few hours alive were filled with fear, she takes comfort in knowing that God "has him safe in His arms now."

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Hayden Harris case: Life sentences for Fort Drum soldier killers