Deevan Jagnarine, the livery cab driver who got the call to pick up the victim from a local Ozone Park bar, testified against his accomplice, Alex Gobardhan in exchange for a lighter sentence.
A South Ozone Park man who acted as an accomplice of the livery cab driver who was called to an Ozone Park bar to drive home an intoxicated patron has been convicted in the robbery and murder of a 58-year-old man from Brooklyn that was found dead in the street outside 89-12 Arion Road in Ozone Park in August 2010.
Alex Gobardhan, 22, of 104-43 106 Street was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree robbery and three counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property following a week-long jury trial before Queens Supreme Court Justice John B. Latella.
His co-defendant, livery cab driver Deevan Jagmarine, 24, of 142-43 123 Avenue in Jamaica, who testified against Gobardhan, pleaded guilty to first- and second- degree robbery with the promise of a recommended sentence of 11 years in prison if his testimony proved truthful. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2013.
According to trial testimony, at about 10:30 p.m., on August 16, 2010, the victim, Matadin Ramnarain, 58, who was heavily intoxicated, got into Jagmarine’s taxi outside a bar called “The Rush,” located at 108 Street and 101 Avenue.
Shortly after, Jagmarine picked up Gobardhan and drove to the vicinity of Arion Road. Both defendants punched the victim in the face and took his cell phone, wallet and a gold bracelet. The pair dumped the body, which was later found by a passerby who called 911.
The victim was removed to Jamaica Hospital by EMS workers and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The official cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiovascular disease following blunt trauma to the head.
“This was a senseless crime… The defendant’s actions come at a steep price – he has been convicted at trial and faces a lengthy prison sentence which is necessary to punish him and to protect society,” D. A. Brown said,
Gobardhan faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on August 14, 2013.
