EXTRADITED SUSPECT ARRAIGNED ON TWO COUNTS OF MURDER AND RELATED CHARGES IN THE 2001 STABBING DEATH OF A LIVERY CAB DRIVER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 26 year-old Robin Valentin, a former Bronx resident, has been arraigned on an indictment charging two counts of murder and related charges for the alleged 2001 stabbing death of a 22 year-old livery cab driver.

22 year-old Jose Gutierrez was stabbed in the neck on April 22, 2001 after being surrounded by Valentin and his co-defendant’s. Gutierrez was rushed to Jacobi Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The grand jury charged Valentin, formerly of 244 Kingsbridge Road, the Bronx, with Murder in the 2^nd degree under two different legal theories. Valentin is charged with intentional murder in causing the death of the victim, and in a manner "evincing a depraved indifference to human life". Valentin was also charged with 1 count of Manslaughter in the 1^st degree, 1 count of Attempted Assault in the 1^st degree, 1 count of Reckless endangerment in the 1^st degree, 2 counts of Hindering prosecution in the 1^st degree and 1 count of Criminal possession of a weapon in the 4^th degree, in the alleged stabbing death of Jose Gutierrez. Valentin fled immediately after the homicide and eluded police for nearly three years before he was taken into custody in Belgium last week.

Co-defendant’s Densil Vasquez, 24, of 1770 Andrews Avenue, and Fidel Genoa, 25, of 782 Pelham Parkway, pled guilty last May to 1 count of Reckless endangerment in the 2^nd degree. A third co-defendant, Algeny Capellan 24, of 31 Mosholu Parkway, pled guilty in March 2003, to 1 count of Reckless endangerment in the 1^st degree. Vasquez, Genoa and Capellan are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, May 6, 2004 in0 Part M60. A fourth defendant, Alphonso Sanchez, 23, of 185 East 163^rd Street, pled guilty in February 2003, to 1 count of Attempted Assault in the 1^st degree. Sanchez was sentenced to a determinate term of three and a half years imprisonment.

The incident occurred on April 22, 2001 after the victim allegedly bumped his car into Valentin’s motorcycle. It is further alleged that Valentin acted in concert with co-defendants Capellan, Sanchez, Genoa and Vasquez, who chased Gutierrez, to the intersection of Middletown Road and McDnough Place, where they surrounded the victim.

It is alleged that Valentin stabbed Gutierrez in the neck, then fled to the Dominican Republic. Valentin fled once again to Belgium where he was apprehended. After extradition from Belgium, Valentin was remanded at his arraignment today before Acting State Supreme Court Justice John N. Byrne. Valentin is next scheduled to appear on Friday, May 7, 2004 in Part M60. If convicted of murder, Valentin faces a maximum term of up to life imprisonment.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Nancy Borko, of the General Crimes Division is prosecuting this case.