West Babylon man sentenced in slaying, assault

A West Babylon man was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of a 22-year-old Brooklyn man and the gang assault of his girlfriend outside an Elmhurst, Queens, night club in 2008.

John Lundi, 26, of Straight Path, was sentenced in Queens Supreme Court after his conviction last month on second-degree murder, first- and second-degree gang assault, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence.

Three of Lundi's friends, all West Babylon residents, previously pleaded guilty to charges related to this case.

"The crimes of which the defendant has been convicted were senseless and vicious, and perpetrated by an individual who chose a weapon over words," Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said Tuesday in a prepared statement,

Brown said the trial testimony indicated that as Christopher Cotto, 22, of Brooklyn, and his girlfriend, Tiffany Lebron, left the Krystal Club on Queens Boulevard on Nov. 27, 2008, Lundi made remarks toward her. Cotto came to her defense, and during a fight in which several of Lundi's friends joined in, Lundi stabbed Cotto, who died from his injuries, Brown said.

Adam and Alex Hawrylkiewicz, both 22, of Ecker Avenue, West Babylon, pleaded guilty in August to second-degree gang assault, punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and Sarah Kurman, 22, of 18th Street, West Babylon, pleaded guilty in 2009 to second-degree gang assault, punishable by up to seven years in prison. They are still awaiting sentencing.