A North Amityville man has been convicted of helping an alleged gunman fatally shoot his 30-year-old girlfriend in the apartment the couple shared inside a Halloween supply store three years ago.
A Suffolk County jury found Joseph DeFelice, 34, guilty Thursday of second-degree murder, hindering prosecution and criminal facilitation.
Prosecutors have said DeFelice collaborated with 36-year-old David Newbeck of Massapequa in killing Mandy Jo Jenkins in August 2010 after Jenkins filed identity theft charges against Newsbeck’s girlfriend, Jennifer Russini.
Newbeck has pleaded not guilty to the same charges as DeFelice and is slated to be tried separately. Russini is serving prison time for the identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Police had apprehended DeFelice and Newbeck after each fled the state. Each has been held without bail since being brought back to Long Island to face the charges.
DeFelice had given investigators a half dozen different versions of the story of Jenkins’ disappearance before police discovered her remains in North Lindenhurst months after the murder, authorities have said.
He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 13 before Judge John Toomey.
