Mineola, NY - August 31, 2015 - Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arraignment of a Glen Cove man who was indicted for the stabbing death of his former girlfriend.
Jose Cartagena, 54, of Glen Cove, was arraigned on one charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree (an A violent felony), one charge of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony) and one charge of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree (an A misdemeanor). State Supreme Court Justice Angelo Delligatti continued bail at remand.
If convicted of the top charge, Cartagena faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison. He is due back in court on October 7.
“The defendant is accused of brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight and then fleeing to the state to California, where he was picked up two weeks later,” Acting DA Singas said. “My office will prosecute this horrific crime to the fullest extent of the law.”
Acting DA Singas said that on March 26 at approximately 3:15 p.m., the defendant stabbed ex-girlfriend Yanira Estella Canjura Martinez, 32, multiple times in a Glen Cove parking lot. The victim, who had separated from the defendant a week earlier, was on her way to pick up her five-year old daughter. Martinez was pronounced dead at 4:02 p.m. at a local hospital.
Cartagena, who fled the scene, was apprehended in California on April 8.
Assistant District Attorney Martin Meaney of Acting DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case. Cartagena is represented by Ronald Beckoff, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.