By Courtney Dentch
A Jamaica teenager who admitted to fatally attacking a Chinese food deliveryman with a brick faces seven years to life in prison.
Robert Savage, 16, of 177-03 130th Ave., confessed to the August 2000 killing of restaurant owner Jin Sheng Liu, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Savage, who was 14 at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert Hanophy, just prior to jury selection that was scheduled to begin for his trial, the DA’s office said.
“The defendant has admitted that he struck the victim in the head with a brick, fatally injuring him,” Brown said. “The crime was vicious and violent and warrants severe punishment.”
Four other Queens teenagers were charged with the murder and robbery. James Stone, 17, of 176-31 130th Ave., Jamaica, and Darryl Tyson 18, of 132-07 178th St., also of Jamaica, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and have been sentenced to 16 and 17 years in prison, respectively, Brown said.
Jamel Murphy, 18, of 219-05 131st Ave., Springfield Gardens, also pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery, and is awaiting sentencing. The fifth defendant, Stacy Royster, 19, of 257-52 148th Dr., Rosedale, is awaiting trial, Brown said.
The killing occurred in August 2000, when Stone and Tyson planned with the others to rob a Chinese food deliveryman, Brown said. Royster allegedly called the Golden Wok Restaurant on Linden Boulevard and ordered $60 worth of food to be delivered to an abandoned house on 176th Street, according to the DA’s office.
When Liu, 44, of 192-15 Linden Blvd., arrived with the food, Tyson admitted to pushing him to the ground and Stone admitted throwing a sheet over his head. Savage, who was 14 at the time, hit Liu in the head with a brick, killing him, the DA said.
“The defendant deserves a much longer sentence, but because of his age is shielded by the leniency of current juvenile sentencing limits,” Brown said.
Royster is due back in court for pre-trial hearings March 15, a spokesman for the DA’s office said. She is undergoing psychological tests after she pleaded not responsible because of mental disease or defect, the spokesman said.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 138.
