A correction officer faces life in prison for shooting to death his ex-girlfriend to dodge “child support obligations,” prosecutors said in opening statements in Queens court today.
Christopher Clavell, 48 of Staten Island, is accused of killing Barbara Perez almost 13 years ago behind The Power Factory Gym in Ridgewood where she worked as an assistant manager.
“The defendant complained about his financial woes and was enraged with Perez for his child support obligations,” assistant district attorney Richard Schaeffer told jurors during his openings.
Perez, 30, was hit with one bullet to the chest and eight to the head.
Hours after the Aug. 11, 2000 shooting, Clavell was “thoroughly” questioned by several detectives and search warrants of his home, car and gym bag returned with negative forensic evidence to match the bloody scene.
The 20-year veteran of the city Department of Correction wasn’t pinned to the crime until April 2011.
If convicted, Clavell faces 25 years to life for the second-degree murder charges.
“This case is driven by facts and facts only,” said Clavell’s attorney Joey Jackson. “If he didn’t want the kid why would he petition for custody after Perez was murdered?”
Perez and Clavell’s son was only 2-years-old at the time. Perez’s family was awarded custody.
Prosecutors intend to prove that Clavell confided in convicted felons to obtain an illegal weapon and was seen by others in the neighborhood with a “bruise on his temple”.
“Of course the boyfriend or husband did it,” said Jackson sarcastically. “Connecting Clavell is the easy way out.”