By Dustin Brown
Police have made two arrests in connection with a pair of unrelated murder cases from last year in the 114th Precinct.
Dejesus Tiburcio, 19, of 32-41 48th St. in Astoria, was charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and manslaughter for allegedly killing 24-year-old Martin Ramirez of 31-42 38th St. around 3:45 a.m. Dec. 1, a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. He was arrested Jan. 22 and arraigned the following day in Queens Criminal Court by Judge Lenore Gerald, who ordered him held without bail, the DA's spokeswoman said.
Ramirez, who had been found suffering from numerous stab wounds at the corner of 33rd Street and 36th Avenue, was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital Center nearly two hours after the attack, police said.
Tiburcio is accused of repeatedly punching and stabbing Ramirez with a group of people who have yet to be apprehended, the criminal complaint filed by the DA's office said.
Two days after Tiburcio's arrest, police from the 114th Precinct Friday arrested Jeffery Clemente, 20, of the Bronx for allegedly strangling to death 47-year-old James King, whose body was discovered around 9 a.m. May 5 inside 71-11 Astoria Blvd., police said.
More than a month went by before the city medical examiner ruled King's death a homicide on June 11, police said.
Judge Denis Butler arraigned Clemente Saturday in Queens Criminal Court on charges of second-degree murder, robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, the DA's spokeswoman said. He was ordered to stay in custody without bail.
The criminal complaint alleges that Clemente grabbed King around the neck with his arm and strangled him at 71-11 Astoria Blvd. around 12:30 a.m. May 5, then fled in a 1996 Honda registered to King.
Five homicides were reported in the 114th Precinct in 2002, according to city crime statistics.
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
