BRONX MAN FOUND GUILTY IN THE MURDER OF A NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER IN FEBRUARY 1990

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 36 year old Bronx man has been convicted of murder in the slashing death of a New York City Correction Officer in February 1990.

Robert Nazario, of Paulding Avenue, was found guilty of one count of Murder in the 2nd degree in the death of Scott Barker who was 26 years old when his life was cut short on a sidewalk in front of a bar on Eastchester Road.

Nazario was convicted following a non-jury trial before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Ceasar Cirigliano. The judge set sentencing for Friday, May 26, 2006 in Part T5. Nazario is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life imprisonment.

The murder occurred on February 23, 1990 in front of Sully’s Bar (now known as Gleason’s Bar) at 2040 Eastchester Road when Nazario approached Barker from behind and slashed his throat twice. The victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital and was declared brain dead three days later as a result of a loss of blood. There was testimony that Nazario, while inside the bar, had interjected himself into an altercation between the deceased and an acquaintance of Nazario. Even though the two principals involved in the altercation ultimately resolved their differences, Nazario later accosted Barker on the street and killed him.

Investigators were not able to charge Nazario until December 27, 2001 after the defendant admitted that he had murdered Barker. Ironically, Nazario’s admission occurred during a conversation with another man which took place in the same bar that was the scene of the fatal confrontation eleven years earlier.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney David Greenfield.