Man convicted in rent-control stabbing

[NYHawk]

Man convicted in rent-control stabbing

June 10, 2004, 3:49 AM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) _ A man who prosecutors said was hired to violently force two brothers out of a rent-controlled apartment in Queens has been convicted of attempted murder and other charges.

Police and prosecutors said David Robles and an accomplice were hired by the landlord, Juan Basagoitia, to sneak into the brothers' apartment and stab them with knives last March.

Robles and the accomplice allegedly said Basagoitia promised them $2,500 to attack the brothers, William and David Lavery, in a bid to evict them from their $400-a-month apartment and raise the rent. The brothers survived the attack.

On Wednesday, a Queens jury convicted Robles, 37, of attempted murder, assault, burglary, conspiracy and weapons charges.

Basagoitia, 49, is awaiting trial.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press