MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a New York City Corrections Department Captain was convicted late yesterday afternoon for the attempted murder of his wife in December 2013.
Brian Martin, 38, of Roosevelt, was convicted of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree (a B violent felony), Assault in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony), Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony), Assault in the Third Degree (a class A misdemeanor), and twenty counts of Criminal Contempt 2nd Degree (class A misdemeanors).
The trial started on March 28 and the jury deliberated for approximately one week. The defendant is due back for sentencing on June 6 before Acting Supreme Court Justice William O’Brien and faces up to 25 years in prison on the top count.
“This cowardly defendant pointed his service weapon at his wife, shot her and nearly killed her,” DA Singas said. “The victim suffered life-changing injuries and required multiple surgeries to reconstruct her face. Domestic violence is a top priority for my office and we will aggressively prosecute abusers like Brian Martin.”
DA Singas said that on Saturday, December 21, 2013, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the defendant shot his wife in the face after an argument in which she told him that she wanted a divorce. After a struggle with the defendant, the victim, also a NYC Corrections Officer, was on the ground trying to get up when the defendant, who was standing over her, fired the shot as she looked away. The argument was the culmination of a year-long marriage marked by violence on the part of the defendant. The defendant used his 9 mm Smith and Wesson Corrections Department approved service weapon to shoot his wife.
The victim was transported via ambulance to Nassau University Medical Center. The roof of the victim’s mouth was severely damaged in the shooting and she lost most of her teeth and must now wear dentures. Her face had to be reconstructed using several metal plates.
The defendant was arrested at the scene by members of the Nassau County Police Department First Precinct and First Squad Detectives investigated.
Martin was subsequently indicted for 264 counts of Criminal Contempt for violating Orders of Protection that were issued on behalf of the victim by calling her repeatedly from jail. Because of the large number of counts, only 20 were submitted for consideration by the jury.
Assistant District Attorneys Amanda Burke and Emma Slane of DA Singas’ Special Victims Bureau are prosecuting the case. Martin is represented by Dana Grossblatt, Esq.