NOVEMBER 13, 1998

TWO QUEENSBRIDGE HOUSES RESIDENTS CONVICTED OF MURDER OF INNOCENT BYSTANDER; JURY ALSO FINDS DEFENDANTS THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A SECOND PERSON DURING A SHOOTOUT ON THE STREET

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the conviction of two Queensbridge Houses residents for the murder five years ago of an innocent bystander inside an Astoria deli and the attempted murder of another man during a shootout on the street.

District Attorney Brown identified the defendants as Clifford Brathwaite, 34, of 2-06 Astoria Boulevard and Duane Ruffin, 25, of 2-04 Astoria Boulevard in the Queensbridge Houses. They were convicted after a one week jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Cooperman of intentional murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. They will be sentenced on December 2 and face 37½ years to life in prison.

District Attorney Brown said, "Both defendants were well known in the Queensbridge Houses as having committed numerous violent crimes against innocent residents of the neighborhood. At the time of their arrests, defendant Brathwaite was in prison on robbery and drug charges and defendant Ruffin was incarcerated on gun charges. We are pleased that these incorrigible offenders will no longer be free to walk the streets of our county."

According to trial testimony, on November 9, 1993, Ruffin engaged Brathwaite to help him avenge the 1987 killing of Ruffin's brother by Bryant Anderson. They found Anderson inside PD's Deli located at 10-01 40th Avenue in Astoria talking to the deceased, Wilburt Alston. At the time of the incident there were approximately six other patrons in the deli. While Ruffin waited outside, Brathwaite entered the store and mistakenly began firing at Alston, thinking he was Anderson. Brathwaite fired five times, shooting Alston four times in the back and once in the stomach, mortally wounding him. He was removed to Astoria General Hospital where he died during surgery. Anderson fled but was shot twice by Ruffin after exiting the deli. The defendants were arrested after a six month investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brad A. Leventhal of the Queens District Attorney's Homicide Trials Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Daniel A. Saunders and Deputy Bureau Chief Jack Warsawsky and under the overall supervision of Executive District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak.