By Alexander Dworkowitz
A Flushing man was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison last week for murdering another man who he believed stole 200 pounds of his marijuana, the Queens district attorney said.
According to Queens DA Richard Brown, Edward Paixao, 45, of 61-28 160th St. was sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman on Jan. 23.
Paixao was convicted in December of murder in the second degree for the death of John McDonnell, 45, also of Flushing, said the district attorney.
“Today’s sentence represents just punishment for a brutal and callous crime,” Brown said last week. “I hope that it provides some measure of solace for the McDonnell family.”
According to the complaint, Paixao believed that in late 1998 McDonnell had stolen $40,000 in cash and 200 pounds of marijuana from him. Over several months, Paixao left messages on McDonnell’s answering machine, threatening to kill him, the complaint said.
Finally on July 9, 1999, Paixao sneaked behind McDonnell, who was standing talking at 164th Street and Depot Road, and shot him four times execution-style, according to the complaint.
Brown said Paixao fled the city and headed upstate the next day. Three days later, he learned that he was wanted for McDonnell’s murder and fled to Pennsylvania.
On July 17, police tracked Paixao to Williamsport, Pa., arrested him and extradited him to New York.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
