BRONX MAN HAS BEEN CONVICTED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS UNCLE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 28 year-old Antonio Morales, currently serving 25 years to life imprisonment for the 1996 murder of a Bronx school teacher, has again been convicted this time for the1996 murder of his 29 year-old uncle.

A jury found Morales guilty of Murder in the 2nd degree in the shooting / stabbing death of David Santiago. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Megan Tallmer set sentencing for Monday, June 17, 2002 in Part 22. Morales faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life imprisonment. He was convicted following a half day of deliberations.

The murder occurred on August 8, 1996, when Morales went to his uncle’s apartment at 594 Union Avenue just two weeks after killing Dodge High School teacher Leonard Slatest.

Under cross examination by the prosecution, Morales testified that when he entered his uncle’s apartment, his uncle was standing in his bathroom with a toothbrush in his hand. He further testified that he shot his uncle repeatedly until the gun was empty, hit him in the head with the butt of his gun, and stabbed him in the eye.

A neighbor testified that he saw the victim arrive at his apartment with his niece Mindy Morales, and a short time later, the same witness stated that he saw Mindy leave accompanied by two short men, one of whom the defendant admits was him. The witness testified that he never saw the defendant enter the apartment corroborating the people’s theory that the defendant was laying in wait. Santiago’s body was found the next morning by a neighbor.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Bruce Birns and Assistant District Attorney Alison M. Grinnell prosecuted this case.