A Brooklyn sex offender who fatally suffocated his ex-girlfriend — just 24 hours after being released from jail — was found mentally fit to stand trial Tuesday.
Jerome Rivers is accused of murdering Gia Pender in her home last October just a day after being released from Rikers Island for beating her while he was out on supervised release for a sex offense conviction.
Rivers’ lawyer, David Bart, had requested a psychological evaluation for his client but the results of the exam found him fit for trial.
Outside court Bart said, “I’m a little surprised,” of the report findings.“I accept what it is and we move forward,” Bart added.
Pender, 49, allegedly received a call from Rivers — following his two-month stint in jail — asking if he could stay with her despite an order of protection she had against him.
Fearful, Pender called a neighbor saying, “Jerome is coming over.”
“If anything happens to me, give this to my mother,” she ominously told the neighbor.
The 52-year-old man arrived at Pender’s home and called police in the morning claiming that he awoke to a “thump” and found her on the bedroom floor.
Rivers spent time in the lock-up in 2013 for third-degree sex abuse. He remains in custody without bail on murder and criminal contempt charges.
Rivers — who faces 25 years to life in prison — is due back in court on Sept. 5 for a pre-trial hearing.
