By Alex Ginsberg
Two teenage Mexican immigrants pleaded guilty to intentional manslaughter in the gang-related shooting of a Woodside waitress one year ago, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
Miguel Martinez, 19, entered a guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter charges before Judge Robert Hanophy in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens Tuesday, the DA said. The Elmhurst resident admitted shooting the victim, 22-year-old Maria Azusena as she was walking home from her waitressing job in the early morning hours of July 30, 2002.
Martinez will receive 20 years when he is officially sentenced Sept. 23, the DA said.
Augustina Lopez, 18, also of Elmhurst, entered her plea Monday before Hanophy, admitting that she held the murder weapon, a 9mm handgun, and was aware of the planned killing. She is to receive a 15-year prison term when she is sentenced Sept. 22.
“The defendants have acknowledged their guilt and will be severely punished with long terms of imprisonment for their roles in a senseless and violent crime,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
A third defendant, Roberto Batista, was still awaiting pretrial hearings. He is charged with second-degree murder for which he could receive a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, the district attorney said.
Lopez was arrested in late August 2002, three weeks after the shooting at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 64th Street in Woodside. The case received wide media attention, and an anonymous tip led police to the two other suspects in early September.
“Thankfully, we got this anonymous tip,” said Sgt. Michael Blangiforti, the commanding officer of the 108th Precinct detective squad. “We believe that it was because of some of the publicity that was given to this case.”
Police said Azusena was killed because she was trying to dissociate herself from a vicious Mexican gang, M18, known to be operating in Elmhurst and Corona.
The victim was a waitress at a Roosevelt Avenue restaurant and was walking home to her apartment on 61st Street at about 3:54 a.m. when she was killed.
Reach reporter Alex Ginsberg by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
