Corona resident Antonio Martinez was sentenced on Dec. 6 to 23 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of a fellow guest at a 2019 christening party in the neighborhood, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Martinez, 50, of 98th Street, was convicted of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree on Nov. 16 following a jury trial before Queens Criminal Court Judge Casandra Mullen.
According to the charges, shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2019, Martinez approached 22-year-old Roque Alvarez-Montes, of Corona, outside of the christening party in the vicinity of 98th Street and 37th Avenue in Corona. The two men were engaged in an argument when Martinez pulled out a knife and plunged it into the chest of Alvarez-Montes.
Officers from the 115th Precinct responded to the crime scene and found Alvarez-Montes unconscious. EMS rushed Alvarez-Montes to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. Homicide Detectives took Martinez into custody on Oct. 9, 2019.
“A celebration of life resulted in a violent death because of the defendant’s decision to fatally stab a party guest over an argument,” Katz said. “He will now spend a lengthy prison term as punishment for his actions.”
