Yesterday, a Manhattan judge sentenced 21 year old Rudy Fleming to life in prison without parole for his "unconscionable" actions in the murder of Nicole duFrense in January 2005. During an late night/early morning with, duFresne, fiance Jeffrey Sparks and friends and Fleming and his friends who were on a mugging spree, ran into each other. Fleming had taken duFresne's purse and pistol whipped Sparks, angering duFresne who said, "What are you going to do, shoot us?" One of Fleming's friends said that Fleming shot duFresne because he "was so mad" after she challenged him. more ›

Yesterday, a jury found 21 year old Rudy Fleming guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Nicole duFresne. Fleming was also found guilty of various robbery and weapons charges stemming the January 2005 incident on Clinton Street. He and his friends had been robbing and scaring people, and when they came across duFresne, her fiance, and their friends; Fleming pistolwhipped fiance Jeffrey Sparks and duFresne reportedly confronted Fleming, saying, "What are you going to do, shoot us?" Fleming did shoot duFresne, but his defense attempted to argue that the gun went off by accident (witnesses disagreed). Fleming, who did not attend the trial, had been on parole for gun possession during the shooting. He now faces a maximum of life in prison without parole; his sentencing will be on November 30. The cases of his accomplices are sitll pending. more ›

-- Speaking of bridges, the entire lower deck of the Manhattan Bridge is going to be closed for a year. That's not going to be good for traffic on Flatbush Avenue or Canal Street. more ›

Yesterday, one of the teenagers that mugged and terrorized people on a January 2005 night testfied that Rudy Fleming did not shoot Nicole duFresne by accident. Tatiana McDonald, who was 14 during the fatal mugging (she's now 16), told the court that the group of teens were bored after smoking marijuana and playing video games, so they decided "to start trouble." more ›

Testimony in the Nicole duFresne murder trial continued yesterday with Adam Chavez, who said he was mugged earlier by the same group of youths who later had a fatal confrontation with duFresne in January 2005 on the Lower East Side. Chavez testified that Rudy Fleming, who is on trial for duFresne's death, was the man who pistol whipped him into giving up his leather jacket. But Chavez instead ran from the group towards a cab. An interesting fact: Chavez said he called the police after teh 1:45AM attack; as the NY Times writes, "It was unclear from his testimony whether the police searched for his attackers and why the group was still on the street at 3:15 a.m. when Ms. duFresne, walking with her fiancé and two friends, was killed during a robbery." more ›

Confirming our suspicions that the upcoming Nicole duFresne murder trial is going to be brutal, a judge yesterday smacked down 20-year-old first degree murder suspect Rudy Fleming's claim of mental incompetency. You may recall that after being apprehended Fleming claimed to have visions of a "giant marshmallow man" and to hear voices which told him not to eat (he gained 8 lbs. under custody). more ›

When you're 20 years old and on the hook for killing a woman while trying to rob her, it seems the only thing to do is to play crazy. Or that what a psychiatrist says Rudy Fleming, who at 19 shot Nicole duFresne on a Lower East Side corner last year during a botched robbery, is doing. Fleming had been claiming that he saw a "Marshmallow Man", a black-and-white cat, and a red-colored man, as well as hearing voices. Bellevue's Dr. Steven Ciric said, given the facts that Fleming has changed what the marshmallow man looks like, that he's gained eight pounds while in custody, and since he gives "grossly exaggerated" answers to questions, Fleming is faking it. Fleming's lawyer is claiming that his client suffers from borderline mental retardation. All Gothamist knows is that when this goes to trial, it's going to be brutal. more ›

At that point, the group spotted Ms. duFresne; her fiancé, Jeffrey Sparks; and another couple. They had come from a nearby bar, where they celebrated Ms. duFresne's new job at a local nightclub. more ›

The whole matter is a terrible tragedy for both sides. Gothamist hopes that people will realize they need to be more aware if they are out late at night, no matter where they are. And given the quick police work on this case, perhaps others considering criminal acts will think again. Here is information about the Nicole duFresne Memorial Scholarship fund at Emerson College. more ›

The Post notes that Fleming "had an accident" in his pants when the police approached him. more ›

...It's not fair to the people, and it's not fair to me. I don't have enough money to buy a decent pair of pants right now, much less have the money to get them out. All I have to say is, these kids did what they did. I don't know anything. I wish I could change the whole situation, but I can't.Simmon says he told his children to go to the police, but police say that tips came from others who heard those involved talking about the crime. The police have been calling the earlier robbery and duFresne's murder "crimes of opportunity" - prompted only by running into the targets. Other police sources say that Fleming hit his head, spit and tore at his clothes in order to appear "crazy," perhaps in a bid for an insanity defense; he also allegedly "whined" while questioned and appear to be asleep when arragined. more ›