By Jeremy Walsh
The Long Island City man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death inside her Queensbridge Houses residence in 2006 was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison last week, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Erik Johnson, 43, a former construction worker, was sentenced by Judge Gregory Lasak last Thursday after being convicted of second-degree murder and weapon possession in a jury trial Feb. 11.
“The jury in this case delivered a swift verdict, finding the defendant guilty of this violent and senseless murder,” Brown said in a statement. “The sentence imposed today is warranted and justified and serves as a measure of justice for a young woman whose life was needlessly cut short.”
Johnson forced his way inside the Queensbridge Houses apartment of his ex, Asma Johnson, 39, at 41-12 12th St. Nov. 8, 2006. He stabbed Asma Johnson, a mother of three who worked as a saleswoman and volunteered with the social services nonprofit East River Development Alliance, multiple times.
As Erik Johnson fled the scene, his aunt and cousin spotted him coming down the stairs from Asma Johnson’s apartment. He told them he had done something bad or stupid, the DA said. The defendant’s aunt and cousin went upstairs and found Asma Johnson lying on the floor in a pool of blood with two stab wounds to her neck and two stab wounds to her stomach. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Erik Johnson was arrested by police in the 114th Precinct five weeks after the murder.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jewalsh@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
