GRAND JURY FILES MURDER CHARGES AGAINST BRONX MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY CAUSED THE DEATH OF A PEDESTRIAN DURING THE ROBBERY OF A LIVERY CAB DRIVER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has filed murder and robbery charges, among other offenses, against a 22 year old Bronx man in connection with a pedestrian death during a knife-point robbery of a livery cab driver.

Kelvin Vazquez, of 1790 Prospect Avenue, has been indicted on two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree and one count of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree in the death of Rosa Roman, 51, on November 7, 2005. Vazquez was also indicted on one count each of Robbery in the 1st and 2nd degrees and one count of Assault in the 2nd degree involving his alleged crimes against cab driver Raul Juarez.

Vazquez is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on January 18, 2006 in State Supreme Court, Part A. He is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment if convicted on the murder charge.

Vazquez was charged with murder under two different legal theories. It is alleged that he caused the death of the pedestrian Rosa Roman during the commission of another felony offense, the robbery of the cab driver. A second theory is that Vazquez “ had acted with a depraved indifference to human life” when he allegedly attacked the cab driver with a knife while the driver was operating a motor vehicle. Juarez lost control of the cab which crashed into a parked car. Roman was crossing the intersection of University Avenue and West 166th Street when the crash occurred, pinning her between the two vehicles and severing her leg. It is alleged that the defendant, following the accident, got out of the cab and continued to attack the driver before taking his cash, wallet and jewelry.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Piergrossi of the Trial Division.