MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that two men have been convicted for their roles in the shooting death of a Uniondale man in August 2016.
Joshua Taylor, 25, of Hempstead was convicted yesterday by a jury of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
Jorge Burgess, 25, of Uniondale was convicted yesterday by a jury of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The trial started April 17 and the jury deliberated for two days. The defendants were remanded and are due back for sentencing before Acting Supreme Court Justice William O’Brien June 12. Defendant Joshua Taylor faces up to 25 years to life in prison and defendant Jorge Burgess faces five to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to 15 years in prison on the weapons charge.
“Jude St. Clair was lured to his death by these defendants who were seeking revenge for a fight,” DA Singas said. “These convictions will ensure these men will pay a heavy price for this despicable crime.”
DA Singas said on August 21, 2016, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Burgess lured the victim, 32-year-old Jude St. Clair, down a side street off Nassau Road in Uniondale by waving him to come over. The defendants then fired eight shots at St. Clair, hitting him three times, once in the upper right chest, once in the left shoulder and a graze wound to the buttocks. Burgess used a .38 revolver and Taylor used a .380 semi-automatic handgun. The defendants were seeking revenge for a fight earlier in the morning between Taylor’s cousin and the victim.
Following the shooting, Burgess fled the scene and was arrested on August 30, 2016, by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
Taylor fled the scene and went to Connecticut to stay with his cousin. He was arrested September 10, 2016, in Hartford, Connecticut, and extradited to Nassau County to face charges.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stefanie Palma of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau. Defendant Burgess is represented by Stuart Austin, Esq. and Defendant Taylor is represented by Mitchell Barnett, Esq.
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