By Bianca Fortis
An Ozone Park man faces a sentence of 25 years in prison after he was convicted of robbing and murdering a man in August of 2010, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Alex Gobardhan, 22, of 104-43 106th St. was found guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder, robbery and criminal possession of stolen property after a week-long trial in Queens Supreme Court, the DA said.
Gobardhan’s co-defendant Deevan Jagmarine, 24, of 142-43 123rd Ave. in Jamaica, earlier pleaded guilty to robbery and received a recommended sentence of 11 years in prison, according to the district attorney’s office.
According to trial testimony, Jagamarine, a livery cab driver, picked up the victim, 58-year-old Matadin Ramnarain, outside of a bar at the corner of 108th Street and 101st Avenue in South Richmond Hill, the DA said. Ramnarain was very intoxicated at the time, and Jagmarine then picked up Gobardhan and drove to 89-12 Arion Rd., according to Brown.
The pair then punched Ramnarain in the face and robbed him of his cell phone, wallet and gold bracelet before dumping his body, which was later found by a passerby, the DA said.
Ramnarain was brought to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Brown.
According to the medical examiner’s office, the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiovascular disease following blunt trauma to the head, the DA said.
“This was a senseless crime in which an innocent victim was robbed of his wallet, cellphone, gold bracelet – and his life,” Brown said in a statement. “The defendant’s actions come at a steep price – he has been convicted at trial and faces a lengthy prison sentence which is necessary to punish him and to protect society.”
Jagmarine is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, and Gobardhan on August 14, according to the district attorney.
Reach reporter Bianca Fortis by email at bfortis@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
