Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Michael Robinson was convicted of murder after being retried for the 1993 stabbing death of his estranged wife, 29-year-old Gwendolyn Samuels. Samuels was killed a year after she and Robinson separated. At the time she was two months pregnant with her new boyfriend’s child and was working as a housekeeper. Robinson stabbed her to death in the Bayside home of the elderly woman she was caring for.

District Attorney Katz said: “This was a brutal crime that left a pregnant young woman dead and devastated her family. A jury convicted Robinson 32 years ago, but on appeal the verdict was reversed in 2023. Following a second jury trial, he was found guilty of a murder motivated by jealousy. It is my hope that this will bring Gwendolyn Samuels’ loved ones a measure of closure and comfort knowing that the defendant has been held to account for her death.”

Robinson, 59, of Jamaica, was convicted today by a jury of murder in the second degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson, who presided over the trial, set sentencing for July 1. Although Robinson has already served a substantial amount of time in prison because of his conviction after the first trial, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

Trial openings took place on May 28 and closings on June 9. The jury deliberated for just under a day before returning a verdict.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and trial testimony, on January 11, 1993, Gwendolyn Samuels was working as a housekeeper for 88-year-old Alviena Marchon in Bayside. Robinson arrived at the home and then he and Samuels went grocery shopping for Marchon.

When the defendant and Samuels got back from grocery shopping, the defendant sat down with Marchon and spoke to her for a few minutes. Samuels went upstairs and was followed by Robinson.

Marchon testified at the original trial that she heard Samuels screaming and rushed up the stairs to find Robinson standing over her with a knife. When Marchon attempted to stop the attack, Robinson stabbed her.

At the time of trial, Marchon was 89 years old. She has since passed away. Three of the testifying detectives from the original trial are also deceased. Their testimony from the first trial was read into the record during the new trial.

Robinson’s original conviction was overturned in 2023 after newly discovered DNA evidence found on one of the victim’s fingernails did not match the defendant’s.  It was never determined who the DNA belonged to.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Rella prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.