Second guilty plea in Shirley cabbie slay

A second man pleaded guilty Thursday in connection with the 2008 shooting death of a taxi driver outside the Shirley train station.

Appearing in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, Michael Taggart, 23, of Melville blamed the death of cabdriver John Attrino, 53, of Shirley, on one of his co-defendants. Taggart said Attrino was killed during a botched robbery shortly before 3 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2008.

Attrino, who worked for Hampton Coach cab company in Mastic Beach, was shot in the head and torso and later died from his wounds, prosecutors said.

Taggart pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery. He is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 13.

Taggart's guilty plea leaves Corey Holmes, 20, of Mastic, as the only person facing trial in connection with Attrino's death. Holmes has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree attempted robbery.

As part of his plea, Taggart agreed to testify against Holmes in court.

In an interview, Holmes' attorney, Dan Russo of East Quogue, said his client was not the shooter. "There's absolutely no evidence linking Corey to this case," Russo said.

Thursday in court, responding to questions from Assistant District Attorney Todd Pettigrew, Taggart said Holmes shot Attrino during a failed robbery attempt. Taggart said he drove Holmes and another man, Jimmy Ruiz, 18, of Bellport, to the Shirley train station to commit a robbery.

He said Holmes and Ruiz left the car and approached a cab nearby. "I heard four shots," Taggart said.

When Holmes and Ruiz returned to the car, Holmes said he had shot the cabdriver, Taggart said.

Members of Attrino's family declined to comment as they left court.

Ruiz pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to first-degree attempted robbery in connection with Attrino's death. As part of the plea, Ruiz also agreed to testify.

Holmes, Taggart and Ruiz are being held without bail at Suffolk County jail.