In murder case, dancer admits she lied to police

By turns emotional and defiant, an exotic dancer admitted initially lying to police about her role in the killing of a Nesconset attorney, but insisted Tuesday she was telling the truth when she described how his business partner hired her and two men to commit murder.

Monique Randall, 30, of St. Albans, Queens, acknowledged she had a long criminal record, including pleading guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the Oct. 20, 2008, killing of James DiMartino, 44, in Commack.

During more than two hours on the stand in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, Randall detailed how DiMartino's friend and partner, Ronald Thornton, paid her and two men about $10,000 to have DiMartino killed. For testifying at Thornton's trial, Randall is expected to be sentenced to a reduced term of 15 years to life in prison.

Thornton, 39, of Nesconset, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy.As Randall testified about DiMartino's death, his widow, Diane, wept in her seat.

Randall said Thornton was a regular customer at Shady Al's bar in Commack, where Randall danced under the stage name "Spice." He approached her in early October 2008, she said.

"He told me he was having a problem, and [asked] if I could help him with his problem by getting a gun with a silencer," Randall testified. "I told him I could help him out."

Randall said her boyfriend, Donovan Raysor, 22, of St. Albans, recruited a friend, Darnell Festus, 24, of Queens, to kill DiMartino. Raysor and Festus are awaiting trial for first-degree murder.

Randall said she and the men planned to kill DiMartino outside a restaurant on Jericho Turnpike in Commack. After walking to the restaurant from a nearby hotel, Randall said, she saw DiMartino in the parking lot, and Festus close by.

"I seen Darnell," she said. "I said, 'Do it, do it.' "

She heard a gunshot as she walked away, Randall said. DiMartino's body was found later in the parking lot.

Randall said she and Festus returned to a hotel room."He said, 'I gave that - motherfuckera permanent headache,' " Randall said.

Under questioning from Thornton's attorney, Glenn Obedin of Central Islip, Randall denied hiring Thornton to find an apartment in Commack or planning to rob him. She admitted to working as a prostitute and previous convictions on drug and fraud charges.

"Anything else in your background?" Obedin asked.

"A lot of stuff," Randall said.