RIVERSIDE, NY — Three people face upgraded charges in an indictment handed down in connection with the fatal beating of Christopher Martin in Shirley two weeks ago, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Thursday.
Korey Sammarco, 36, of Shirley, Melissa Fawcett, 50, of Central Islip, and Benjamin Sheppard, 34, of Central Islip, were each indicted on charges of second-degree murder and gang assault, the DA said.
They face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
Sammarco, Fawcett, and Sheppard have been remanded during the pendency of the case.
Sammarco's attorney, John Halverson of Patchogue, told Patch that he entered a not guilty plea and he and his team are looking forward to getting discovery in the case.
"We believe this was an altercation between the two individuals and we look forward to fighting the charge," he added.
Fawsett's attorney, Eric Besso of Sayville, could not be immediately reached.
Sheppard's attorney, Katherine Fernandez of Uniondale, declined to comment.
Tierney said the defendants are alleged to have "brutally beaten" Martin, 48, of Shirley, to death in his own home.
“The allegations here are extremely disturbing, and we will seek justice for Mr. Martin and his family," he said. "I thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their thorough investigation in this case.”
At around 7 p.m. on June 14, the trio went to Martin's home and entered through the front door, and then Sammarco kicked down his locked bedroom door and hit him on the head with a sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground, prosecutors said.
Sammarco and Martin, who were friends and roommates, had been arguing in the weeks prior, and Fawcett, Martin's former girlfriend, had also been feuding with him after he had broken up with her, according to prosecutors.
For more than 30 minutes, the trio "viciously beat" Martin using a television, a 20-pound dumbbell, and a bat, and they broke his phone so that he could not call the police, prosecutors said.
Martin was later discovered by a roommate and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to prosecutors.
Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants and recovered the sledgehammer, television, dumbbell, and bat, prosecutors said.
Sammarco and Fawcett are due back in court on Aug. 6, and Sheppard is due back in court on Aug. 10.
This is a breaking story and will be updated. Check back later.
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