By Ivan Pereira
The Connecticut man who was part of a violent home invasion of a Rosedale house in 2008 was convicted last week of killing one of the tenants, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
A Queens jury found Richard Bailey, 28, of New Haven, Conn., guilty of six criminal counts, including second-degree murder and burglary last Thursday. Bailey, and two other men who have not been caught, broke into a multi-family home on 147th Avenue in Rosedale Jan. 16, 2008, and held two victims hostage, according to Brown.
The three men, armed with handguns, ransacked the home, demanded money and marijuana and searched for a man named “Lion,” the DA said.
During the burglary, the trio allegedly took one victim, placed a pillow over his head and took him to the dwelling’s rear basement, where 23-year-old Kirkland Green lived, according to Brown. Bailey and his two cohorts opened fire at Green, killing him instantly in the basement, the DA said.
Testimony during the trial indicated one of the gunmen put a gun to the victim with the pillow on his head and pulled the trigger, but the chamber was empty, according to Brown.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman has scheduled a sentencing date for Bailey July 15. He faces 25 years to life in prison for his role in the murder, according to the DA.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
