Mount Kisco man who fatally stabbed housemate sentenced

A 42-year-old Mount Kisco man who fatally stabbed a housemate was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in state prison.

Oscar Manolo Morales killed Rey David Esquivel Lemus following an altercation 10 months ago.

“Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his brazen act of violence that took the life of his friend and housemate," Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah said in a statement announcing the sentence. "We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Lemus’ family who grieve this senseless loss.”

Late on June 24, a fellow resident of their Lexington Avenue building had to separate Morales and Lemus after an argument turned physical. But moments later, Morales grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Lemus four times, including in the chest.

Lemus, 36, was taken to Northern Westchester Hospital where he died a short time later.

Morales told Westchester County police that night that he had grabbed the knife after Lemus started to strangle him and threatened to kill him, according to court documents. He acknowledged stabbing Lemus when his friend tried to get the knife from him.

He put the knife in the sink and mopped up the blood while waiting for police to arrive, claiming he didn't think he had done anything wrong, according to the court documents.

State Supreme Court Justice Larry Schwartz imposed the sentence Morales was promised in March when he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. That had been the original charge when he was arrested but Morales later was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder that accused him of intending to kill Lemus.

In pleading guilty he admitted killing Lemus while trying to seriously injure him.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mount Kisco NY man sentenced for fatally stabbing housemate