By Howard Koplowitz
A South Ozone Park man and a Jamaica livery cab driver who was called to drive a patron home from an Ozone Park bar were charged last week with the robbery and murder of the bar customer, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The cab driver, Deevan Jagnarine, 21, of 142-43 123rd Ave. in Jamaica, and 19-year-old Alex Gobardhan of 104-43 106th St. in South Ozone Park, allegedly punched the patron, 58-year-old Matadin Ramnarain, in the face and took his cell phone, wallet and a gold bracelet during the attack around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 16 in front of 82-12 Arion Road in Ozone Park, the DA said.
The city medical examiner ruled Ramnarain’s death was caused by blunt trauma to the head and cardiac arrhythmia, Brown said.
“This is a disturbing case that ended with the death of an innocent man,” the DA said in a statement. “These defendants now face lengthy prison terms if convicted of this senseless crime.”
Brown said a gold bracelet was discovered in Jagnarine’s house and a cell phone was recovered from Gobardhan’s home.
Jagnarine and Gobardhan face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted on charges of second-degree murder, robbery and criminal possession of stolen property, the DA said.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
