A jury yesterday convicted a Queens landlord of ordering a vicious knife attack on two tenants in a bloodthirsty bid to get them out of their rent-controlled apartment.
A panel of five men and seven women deliberated six hours in Queens Supreme Court before finding the landlord, Juan Basagoitia, guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy, assault and burglary.
He faces 50 years to life in prison when he returns to court next month for sentencing.
“I think the jury members did an excellent job of methodically going through the charges and coming to a fair and just verdict,” said Assistant District Attorney Brad Leventhal.
Prosecutors said Basagoitia, 50, promised two tenants $2,500, six months free rent and forgiveness of past debts to kill brothers William and David Lavery, the third-floor residents at 40-18 Ithaca St.
In a videotaped statement played for the jury, the landlord admits striking a deal, but only to “scare” the brothers out.
But one of the attackers, Danny Machuca, 30, testified he and roommate David Robles, 37, sneaked into the Laverys’ apartment, slicing the brothers in the neck, arms and back with hook knives.
Robles is currently serving a 40-year sentence for the crime, but Machuca negotiated an eight-year deal in exchange for his testimony against Basagoitia.
Machuca told the jury that Basagoitia was trying to sell the building and that the buyer was balking because the two rent-control tenants were only paying $400 a month for a three-bedroom apartment worth at least four times that amount.
But defense attorney Stewart Orden noted Machuca never got the “kill” order directly from the landlord – instead relying on instructions relayed by Robles.
Orden said the testimony should have been excluded by Supreme Court Justice John Latella because it was hearsay – and said his client would probably seek redress with a higher court based on that argument.
“I think he’s got a terrific shot on appeal,” Orden said.