West Hempstead man gets 20 years to life for 2012 murder

A West Hempstead man who beat an acquaintance to death during an argument was sentenced Thursday to 20 years to life in prison, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice's office said.

Bruny Fenelon, 32, was also sentenced by Nassau County Court Judge Tammy Robbins to 5 years of post-release supervision. Last December, a jury found Fenelon guilty of second-degree murder and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon after the August 2012 attack. Fenelon changed attorneys thereafter and unsuccessfully tried to vacate the conviction, Rice's office said.

Nassau police said Fenelon was hanging out and drinking with Michael Rambaran, 39, also of West Hempstead, at the loading dock of National Wholesale Liquidators at 111 Hempstead Tpke. on Aug. 2, 2012.

The men began arguing, police said, but at the time they said it was unknown who threw the first punch. There were witnesses, but no one broke up the fight, police said.

Officials said Fenelon pushed Rambaran to the ground and punched, kicked and stomped on his face, neck and head before breaking at least one glass bottle over his head.

Rambaran, a native of Guyana, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fenelon fled on foot after witnesses called 911, but was arrested at his home by police later that night.

Defense lawyer Gregory Grizopoulos, who represented Fenelon for the sentencing, said Fenelon plans to file an appeal.

The Westbury attorney said his client read a statement in court Thursday that expressed some remorse, but that Fenelon also maintained he had acted in self-defense and that evidence at trial didn't show he caused the victim's death.