By Jeremy Walsh
A Georgia man who killed his cousin in Richmond Hill a decade ago and then fled the state probably will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday.
Tahir Naqvi, 50, of Columbus, Ga., was convicted in June of second-degree murder and weapon possession, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Judge Kenneth Holder imposed a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Naqvi was arrested in Georgia in 2006 after seven years on the run, the DA said.
“The murder … was both senseless and cold-blooded,” Brown said in a statement. “He laid in wait for his cousin to exit his house before gunning him down in broad daylight. Under the circumstances, the lengthy state prison sentence imposed today is more than warranted.”
The victim, Irfan Naqvi, 29, was having an affair with Tahir Naqvi’s wife, Brown said.
The defendant found out about the affair and stalked the victim, waiting for him outside of his Metropolitan Avenue home in Richmond Hill Aug. 14, 1999, the DA said.
At about 3:45 p.m. that day, Irfan Naqvi left the house on his way to a family wedding when he was confronted by his cousin. Tahir Naqvi fired two shots at him, then another as the victim crawled on the ground, Brown said.
Finally, Tahir Naqvi dragged his wounded cousin onto the sidewalk, straddled his body and shot him twice — once into his shoulder and the other fatally into his brain, Brown said.
The entire incident was witnessed by a 14-year-old girl who was on her way to church, Brown said. The teen later picked the defendant out of a photo array and testified against him at his trial.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jewalsh@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
