A Bronx woman stabbed her boyfriend to death during a weekend argument, then brazenly lied to police, saying he was drunk and killed himself by slamming himself into a kitchen cabinet, prosecutors say.
Police said around 4:15 a.m. Sunday, health care worker Carlene Payne, 31, stabbed Joshua Johnson, 36, in the leg with a knife inside her apartment on Lincoln Avenue near Bruckner Boulevard in Mott Haven.
She then “pulled the knife out of the victim's leg, causing the wound to rapidly bleed profusely” and hid the weapon in the dishwashing sink while calling 911, prosecutors said at Payne's arraignment on Monday.
Johnson was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The couple had friends over to their home before the deadly attack and began fighting after the friends left, Assistant District Attorney Zaid Abdullah said in court.
Ms Abdullah said after Payne stabbed her boyfriend she pulled the knife out, making his condition worse, despite her having a medical background.
Abdullah said Payne called 911 but fabricated a story about what happened, claiming her boyfriend “was drunk and fell into a kitchen cupboard.”
She hid the murder weapon in the dishwasher while calling 911, prosecutors said.
“It wasn't until hours later that she finally admitted what she had done, blamed the victim for her actions and admitted she hadn't been honest initially because she thought it would get them both in trouble,” Abdullah said.
According to Payne's criminal complaint, he is charged with murder, manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Abdullah requested to be held without bail, and Judge Eugene Bowen granted the request.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
