184 A.D.2d 335 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1992
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Leslie Crocker Snyder, J.), rendered June 5, 1990, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of murder in the second degree and tampering with evidence, and sentencing him as a second felony offender, to consecutive terms of imprisonment of 25 years to life and 2 to 4 years, respectively, unanimously affirmed.
Defendant was convicted of killing Ms neighbor, whose decapitated and mutilated body was found several hours after the killing occurred. The principal witness against defendant was his live-in girlfriend, who testified that defendant had accused her and the neighbor of having an affair, and, several days after threatening to kill her and the neighbor, announced that the time was right. Armed with a gun, he went to the neighbor’s apartment, whereupon the girlfriend heard two shots, and defendant called to her. Emerging from her apartment, the girlfriend saw the bloodied victim standing by the stairs, and she then retreated to her apartment and heard a loud crack. After the victim was dragged to a storage room, the girlfriend heard sawing. Defendant and his brothers, who were charged with covering up the crime, later took the neighbor’s remains from the building. When defendant returned, the girlfriend took part in cleaning up the blood.