By Alex Robinson
A former city Parks Department employee was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday in the fatal 2012 stabbing of a colleague at a recreation center in Flushing.
Robert Swann, 51, of Ozone Park, admitted to police he stabbed Ezra Black, 31, in the torso at the Al Oerter Recreation Center, at 105-02 103rd Ave., during a fight between the two Sept. 4, 2012, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
In a bizarre coincidence, the incident happened four hours after then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a news conference at the same facility.
A jury acquitted Swann of murder charges but found him guilty of first-degree manslaughter in April.
Queens Criminal Court Judge Ira Margulis handed Swann the maximum sentence after the defendant’s attorney sought a sentence of five to six years.
“I don’t believe that you have taken full responsibility for your actions in this case,” the judge told Swann in a packed courtroom. “There is no justification for what happened here.”
Prosecutors asked for a sentence higher than 20 years, which had previously been offered to Swann in a plea deal. Swann maintained that he had been harassed by Black.
“The defendant believed he was justified in what he did that day,” said Assistant District Attorney Denise Tirino. “There is no amount of time that equals a human life.”
Swann’s defense attorney, Michael Siff, argued a lighter sentence was appropriate, as the offers the DA’s office had given were based on murder charges.
“I think had my client been tried on manslaughter, the offers would have been different,” said Siff, who also contended his client had shown remorse for his actions and had never shaded his testimony during the trial.
“My client was a model worker,” Siff said. “It wasn’t until Mr. Black came on the scene that problems started happening.”
Before Swann was sentenced, the court heard statements from the victim’s relatives.
“I pray that none of your family ever go through this pain and suffering,” said Mildred Black, the victim’s mother, as Swann looked down and wiped tears from his eyes. “It’s been one year and months and I cry every single day.”
Black’s family and friends took up nearly half the courtroom and a handful of friends were there to support Swann. A number of Black’s relatives started to cry when the sentence was handed down.
“He got what he deserved,” said Azariyah Black, the victim’s brother outside the courtroom after the sentencing as family members consoled each other. “I think we got justice.”
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
