QUEENS, NY - On Tuesday, July 22nd, authorities with the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced that a man has been arrested and charged for allegedly beating his wife to death inside their apartment in 2024.
Jose Lequerica, 50, was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the Patch. Lequerica is accused of attacking 48-year-old Ak Asli in their apartment near 72nd Street and 37th Avenue on November 15, 2024.
Prosecutors allege that Lequercia hit Asli in the face, head, and body. They said he then left the apartment for two hours, returned home and went to sleep on the couch. The next morning, he entered the bedroom of their apartment and found the victim unconscious on the floor. Lequerica allegedly did not call the police until 6:22 p.m. that night.
Asli was taken to the hospital with severe bruising to her face, head, and body. She was declared brain-dead on November 20, 2024. Her cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
An autopsy revealed that she had severe head injuries, including a hematoma that caused swelling inside the head, crushing her brain stem.
"Domestic violence is a plague in our communities that must be rooted out at the core," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
"The defendant is accused of intentionally killing his wife through blunt force trauma and allegedly waiting over seven hours to call 911 after finding her unconscious," Katz added. "Far too often, victims are made to feel isolated and alone, leading to heartbreaking results."
Lequercia is being held without bail and is currently scheduled to appear in court again on August 12th, Law & Crime reported. A GoFundMe page started by Asli's brother said she touched many lives and was "lost too soon."
"From her days as a teacher to her time with children as a nanny, Asli touched the hearts of many," the page states.
"She later became a greatly successful real estate broker, and even though her dream of owning her own real estate agency remained unrealized, her contributions were generous and many."
In a statement, Katz reminded those that are victims that they are not alone. "Please know that there are resources available to help you safely escape a dangerous domestic situation," she said. "My thoughts are with the victim's family and friends as we seek to hold the defendant responsible."
Jose Lequerica, 50, was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the Patch. Lequerica is accused of attacking 48-year-old Ak Asli in their apartment near 72nd Street and 37th Avenue on November 15, 2024.
Prosecutors allege that Lequercia hit Asli in the face, head, and body. They said he then left the apartment for two hours, returned home and went to sleep on the couch. The next morning, he entered the bedroom of their apartment and found the victim unconscious on the floor. Lequerica allegedly did not call the police until 6:22 p.m. that night.
Asli was taken to the hospital with severe bruising to her face, head, and body. She was declared brain-dead on November 20, 2024. Her cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
An autopsy revealed that she had severe head injuries, including a hematoma that caused swelling inside the head, crushing her brain stem.
"Domestic violence is a plague in our communities that must be rooted out at the core," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
"The defendant is accused of intentionally killing his wife through blunt force trauma and allegedly waiting over seven hours to call 911 after finding her unconscious," Katz added. "Far too often, victims are made to feel isolated and alone, leading to heartbreaking results."
Lequercia is being held without bail and is currently scheduled to appear in court again on August 12th, Law & Crime reported. A GoFundMe page started by Asli's brother said she touched many lives and was "lost too soon."
"From her days as a teacher to her time with children as a nanny, Asli touched the hearts of many," the page states.
"She later became a greatly successful real estate broker, and even though her dream of owning her own real estate agency remained unrealized, her contributions were generous and many."
In a statement, Katz reminded those that are victims that they are not alone. "Please know that there are resources available to help you safely escape a dangerous domestic situation," she said. "My thoughts are with the victim's family and friends as we seek to hold the defendant responsible."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments