By Courtney Dentch
The fifth and final defendant charged in the fatal beating of a Chinese food deliveryman in Springfield Gardens pleaded guilty Tuesday in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens.
Stacy Royster, 19, of 257-52 148th Drive in Rosedale entered the guilty plea to robbery charges before Justice Robert Hanophy for her role in the robbery and murder of Jin Sheng Liu, who was 44.
Under the plea bargain agreement, Royster faces 17 years in prison when she is sentenced on May 29, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Royster, who was 17 when the crime took place in September 2000, and four other teenagers from southeast Queens ordered $60 worth of food from Liu, owner of the Golden Wok Restaurant on Linden Boulevard, Brown said.
As part of the plea bargain, Royster admitted to using her cellular phone to call the restaurant and place the order, he said. Royster asked for the food to be delivered to an abandoned house at 130-19 176th St. in Springfield Gardens, the DA said.
Once Liu arrived, Royster greeted him before the other teens pushed him to the ground, threw a sheet over him, and repeatedly hit him in the head with a brick, Brown said.
“The defendant has admitted that she made the phone call to the restaurant for a food delivery and was part of the plan to rob” Liu, Brown said. “The defendant has acknowledged her role in the vicious and brutal crime. The 17-year prison sentence is just punishment. I hope the victim’s family finds solace in the guilty plea.”
James Stone, 17, of 176-31 130th Ave. in Jamaica and Darryl Tyson, 18, of 132-07 178th St. in Jamaica both pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. Stone was sentenced to 16 years in prison and Tyson received 17 years. Robert Savage, 16, of 177-03 130th Ave., Jamaica, who was 14 at the time of the crime and the one who struck Liu with the brick, was sentenced to seven years to life in prison.
Jamel Murphy, 18, of 219-05 131st Ave. in Springfield Gardens also pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was awaiting sentence, Brown said. He is due in court Wednesday, May 8.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 138.
