NYC Chinatown homeless murders: Randy Santos gets 40 years to life in prison

A New York judge sentenced Randy Santos to 40 years to life after his conviction for first-degree murder in the deaths of four homeless men in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Prosecutors told the court there were no victim impact statements or relatives present to speak for Florencio Moran, Nazario Vásquez Villegas, Anthony Manson, and Chuen Koks.

Randy Santos received a prison term of 40 years to life for killing four men with a metal bar. The attacks happened while the victims slept on New York City streets. A judge also sentenced Santos for attempted murder in assaults that badly injured two others. The case centred on homelessness, mental illness, and drug misuse.

In court, no relatives or friends spoke for the dead men. The victims were Florencio Moran, Nazario Vásquez Villegas, Anthony Manson and Chuen Koks. Prosecutors said the killings happened during a half-hour rampage in Manhattan’s Chinatown nearly seven years ago. A Chinatown activist who arranged Koks’ funeral watched from the gallery.

Randy Santos sentencing and victim statements

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Alfred Peterson told Judge Laura A Ward that the courtroom was missing key voices. "There are no victim impact statements here today. There is nobody here to tell this court about their lives and how their absence is a loss,\" Peterson said. \"But I am certain this court and this city understands the value of every life, and the gift of life that we are afforded to live and make choices and have free will,\" Peterson said. \"That gift was taken away by Randy Santos.\"

Santos sat between court-appointed lawyers during the hearing. Santos listened through headphones while a Spanish interpreter translated. Addressing the judge in English, Santos asked for a sentence that left a future after prison. Santos said daily medication improved Santos’ mind. \"I just want to say, I am very sorry for what I did,\" Santos said. \"I apologise to the people for what I did. I feel very bad about what I did. I wish it never happened.\"

Randy Santos mental illness arguments and court findings

At trial, defence lawyers said schizophrenia shaped Santos’ thinking and actions. The condition was diagnosed months before the killings, lawyers said. They argued Santos believed Santos had to kill 40 people or die. The defence tried to persuade jurors Santos was not criminally responsible. The request for psychiatric treatment instead of prison failed.

Santos moved between jail and psychiatric treatment facilities after the arrest. Defence lawyer Arnold Levine urged Ward to impose 20 years to life. \"We ask that Mr Santos not be sentenced to die in prison,\" Levine told Ward. \"He is not incorrigible or beyond redemption or hope.\" Prosecutors sought 50 years to life for the case.

Randy Santos attacks and evidence in court

Ward said the case reflected three linked city problems. Ward named homelessness, mental illness and narcotics abuse. Ward said these factors appear across violent crime cases. Peterson also described the matter as a warning about a young life derailing. Peterson said Santos had serious challenges, like the victims had challenges.

Before deciding punishment, Ward reviewed surveillance video of the assaults. Prosecutors said it showed Santos lifting a four-foot, 1.2-metre bar overhead repeatedly. The bar then came down onto a victim’s head, the video showed. Prosecutors said Santos found the bar on the street. A couple on a date witnessed one attack, prosecutors added.

Police said 49-year-old David Hernandez was the only survivor of the spree. Prosecutors said Hernandez, critically injured, staggered to a nearby street. Officers there were trying to revive another victim, prosecutors said. Police later found Santos carrying the bar. Prosecutors said it was covered with blood and hair.

Testing linked the weapon to Santos and the victims, prosecutors said. Officials said the bar had Santos’ DNA on one end. Prosecutors said blood from some victims was on the other end. The dead men were aged between 39 and 83, prosecutors said. Santos was also convicted of attempted murder for the two severe injuries.

After the sentence, court officers escorted Santos out in handcuffs. Karlin Chan, the Chinatown activist, said the decision brought closure. \"He knew what he was doing,\" Chan said. Chan rejected the apology as an act. \"At the end of the day here, he is going to a place where he deserves to be: jail.\"

With inputs from PTI