A Brooklyn judge listened to a convicted cop killer recite poetry, then sentenced him to the maximum prison term possible under the law.
Dexter Bostic shot NYPD Officer Russel Timoshenko twice in the face during what started as a routine traffic stop in July 2007 (reported HERE on YWN). Officer Timoshenko died days later. Bostic was also convicted of attempted murder of Officer Timoshenko’s partner Herman Yan.
Bostic got life without parole plus 55 years from Judge Plummer Lott, who said the evidence of guilt was overwhelming.
A second defendant, Robert Ellis, was convicted only of gun possession and sentenced last month to 15 years. The case of a third accused killer, Lee Woods, ended in mistrial late last year. Woods’ retrial began right after the Bostic hearing.
In several minutes of comments to the court before being sentenced, Bostic apologized to his family for not demanding better performances from his attorneys. He said an injustice had been committed and recited a poem by the 18th century English poet William Hayley.
Officer Timoshsenko’s parents and partner Officer Yan watched from a gallery packed with uniformed police officers. Only Assistant District Attorney Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi spoke on behalf of the victim. She said Bostic had “murdered the entire Timoshenko family” with his bullets.
Outside the courtroom afterward, PBA President Patrick Lynch said “the swine who took an officer’s life is going where he belongs forever.”
The following statement was given to YWN by Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes:
Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the sentencing of Dexter Bostic, 36, to Life without Parole plus an additional 55 years for the murder of a police officer and the attempted murder of another officer. Bostic received Life without Parole for the charge of Aggravated Murder, 40 years to Life for Attempted Aggravated Murder, and 15 years for Criminal Possession of a Weapon, all to run consecutive to each other. Bostic was convicted on December 19, 2008 and sentenced today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Plummer Lott.
On July 9, 2007, Police Officers Russel Timoshenko and Herman Yan pulled over a BMW during a routine traffic stop with Dexter Bostic, Lee Woods and Robert Ellis inside the car. As the officers approached the vehicle, gunshots were fired in their direction. Officer Timoshenko was shot in the face and neck. Officer Yan, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, was shot in the chest and arm. Timoshenko was rushed to the hospital and died several days later while on life support. Officer Yan had surgery and made a complete recovery. Woods was arrested at his home the next day while Bostic and Ellis were found several days later in Pennsylvania after a manhunt and arrested.
All three defendants were on trial last year. Robert Ellis was acquitted of murder but convicted on Weapons Possession charges. He was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison. The trial of Lee Woods resulted in a hung jury. The new case is currently on trial. Bostic was found guilty of Aggravated Murder and sentenced today.
The case was prosecuted by Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, Bureau Chief in the Homicide Bureau. Ken Taub is Chief of the Homicide Bureau.
PHOTO LINK: Click HERE to see YWN photos taken at Officer Timoshenko’s funeral.
(Dov Gordon – YWN / NBC New York)
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7 Responses
can someone please explain what life in prison + 55 years means? If someone is in jail for life then where does the 55 years come to play?
Because in New York, a life sentence does not necessarily mean “until death”.
See here:
http://law.justia.com/newyork/codes/penal/pen070.08_70.08.html
The Wolf
Can someone explain this; A guy gets 15 years jail time for gun possession?? Am I missing something in this case?
Life in prison = 25 yrs in prison .
#3 yes brains
He should rot in the “slammer”
#1,
In many cases, a man is sentenced to multiple life sentences. In case any one of these are later overturned, he still remains in jail for the remaining three sentences. The trials are carried out as early as possible because in the event he only received one life sentence and it was overturned 20 years later, looking for witnesses, policemen involved, and evidence would be very problematic and he woulf be out on the street until trial. With three life sentences plus 180 years, that’s not going to happen.
#2
Life in prison without parole means life. While in a standard life “life” sentence, the inmate can apply for parole after a minimum of 25 years claiming he is reformed, in life without parole, reserved for the most egregious offenders, there is no such option. Likewise, an offender may plea bargain for life without parole rather than risk trial with the possibility of a death sentence.
#3
Can you explain Why do people have guns when their are serious anti “handgun” laws on the books? The general reason that private people have unregistered handguns is to commit crime. When if fact that gun is used (brandished) in the commision of a crime, i.e., threatening someone during a robbery, there is an assault charge, there is a robbery charge, there is a possession charge, and there is the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony charge. No kum lai bidiraba minai here.
#5
Not nice, very funny, but not nice.
#6,
Amen