One of the two thugs convicted in the murder of an NYPD officer is facing extra years in prison for his role as the alleged getaway driver in an attempted murder and robbery case.
Robert Ellis, 38, is currently serving 15 years in prison on a criminal possession of a weapon charge for the murder of 23-year-old Officer Russel Timoshenko during a traffic stop in Brooklyn on July 9, 200. He was acquitted of murder charges.
The night before the fatal shooting, Ellis and his partner-in-crime, Dexter Bostic, 38, allegedly stole a silver Porsche from the Mitsubishi dealership he was employed with, picked up a prostitute and decided to go joyriding to find someone to rob, prosecutor Robert Hanophy said yesterday in his opening statement at Ellis’ trial.
The pair randomly chose Carl Fields.
Bostic allegedly got out of the car and fired four bullets at the innocent man and “left him on the ground, a bleeding mess,” said Hanophy, who intends to prove with video surveillance footage, eye witnesses and a confession from Ellis that he was involved with the heinous crime.
The next night, the criminal cronies allegedly stole another vehicle from Bostic’s job and went into Brooklyn with Lee Woods with the same gun used on Fields in tow.
Unlike the cop trial, Bostic and Ellis are being tried separately for the attempted murder, robbery, assault, criminal possession of a weapon charges in the Fields case.
“The forensic evidence in this case speaks volumes,” said Ellis’ attorney, Dennis Coppin, who intends to prove that his client’s DNA or fingerprints were not on the .45 caliber pistol used to shoot Fields nor on the Porsche he allegedly stole.
If convicted, Ellis faces up to an additional 25 years in prison.
Bostic is serving 25 years to life without parole for the murder of Officer Timoshenko and is awaiting trial for allegedly pulling the trigger on Fields which, if convicted, could double his life sentence