Flatbush Man Who Strangled Girlfriend To Death Convicted, DA Says

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — A married man who strangled his girlfriend to death in view of her workplace surveillance cameras was convicted of murder, said prosecutors said.

Rolanso Lexune, 34, could face a life sentence after a Brooklyn Criminal Court jury found him guilty of killing 25-year-old Deneisha Smith in the back room of her Flatbush office in 2016, said prosecutors.

Smith was working at Bedford Technology at 2184 Bedford Ave. the morning of Oct. 1 when her ex-boyfriend arrived and demanded to be let in, said prosecutors.

Lexune followed Smith inside then shoved her into a back room of the store where he began arguing with his former girlfriend, prosecutors said.

Surveillance video shows Lezune staring at Smith’s cell phone before grabbing her by the throat and strangling her to death, said prosecutors.

Smith’s coworker found her three hours later, called 911, and emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene, prosecutors said.

Police rushed to Lexune’s East Flatbush apartment, which he shared with his wife and children, after they spotted him on the store’s surveillance footage, prosecutors said.

Investigators later discovered that Smith had gotten an order of protection against Lexune after he hit her and stole her phone.

Lexune is slated to be sentenced on June 11 and could face between 25 years to life in prison, said prosecutors.

Contact information for Lexune's attorney was not immediately available.

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