Mt Vernon Man Beat 74-Year-Old To Death With Canes

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Clifford Ali of Mount Vernon has been found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-1 felony, in the death of Martin Lisnak, 74. The jury was charged Wednesday and returned a verdict before noon Thursday.

Ali now faces 25 years-to-life in state prison. He is in custody and is scheduled for sentencing July 25, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

Mount Vernon Police received a 911 call at about 1:25 p.m. Nov. 21, 2016. The call was made by Ali, who falsely claimed Lisnak had been robbed and beaten on the street, was not breathing, and was in his home at 214 South Fifth Ave. Police responded and found Lisnak naked and brutally beaten, lying in a pool of blood in his bed. He had been dead for some time.

An autopsy revealed Lisnak had been beaten more than 20 times about his body with multiple canes. Three canes were found in the apartment. The victim died from blunt force trauma as a result of that final brutal beating, Scarpino said.

Ali testified at trial and maintained his innocence. He claimed a neighbor may have been the perpetrator. The jury rejected that claim.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Hochheiser, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Strongin.

PHOTO: Clifford Ali/ Westchester DA's office