A SCARSDALE BUSINESSMAN IS CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER FOR THE 2001 MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS OF 2 PARKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 48 year-old Scarsdale businessman has been convicted for the motor vehicle deaths of two New York City Parks Department Employees in June 2001.

Following a non-jury trial before State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy, Richard Schwartz, of 21 Morris Lane, Scarsdale, was found guilty of 2 counts of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree for the deaths of Patricia Hollinshed, 44, and Marjorie Martinez, 40. Schwartz is facing a term of up to 15 years imprisonment when he is sentenced on Friday, June 6, 2003 in Part M50.

Hollinshed and Martinez were struck and killed when Schwartz, who was driving a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser and traveling at a high rate of speed, plowed into them at the intersection of Bruckner Boulevard and Hunts Point Avenue. After striking the pair, Schwartz continued to drive for about a block with one of the victims on the hood of his vehicle before finally coming to a stop.

A subsequent examination of the defendant revealed that the level of alcohol in his blood was more than twice the legal limit.

Chief Trial Counsel Daniel McCarthy and Assistant District Attorney Kiran Vashishta are prosecuting this case.