Brooklyn, NY – The man accused of killing a former hip-hop executive turned Orthodox Jew, spilled his guts to police, confessing to holding up the man at gunpoint during a liquor store robbery, authorities said today.
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Yosef Robinson was shot and killed on Aug. 19 while trying to protect his girlfriend during the stickup at MB Vineyards, a liquor store in Midwood, where he worked.
Eion Klass, 33, admitted that he “entered the liquor store while covering his face and holding a revolver,” according a Brooklyn criminal court complaint. Klass then allegedly “announced a robbery and demanded cash and jewelry.”
Klass’ lawyer refused to comment on the alleged confession after his client’s arraignment yesterday for the murder and other crimes, but said that his client had been interrogated by police for three days under extremely hostile conditions.
“He was in custody for three days and they were threatening him. They were going at him pretty hard,” said Alan Stutman, Klass’ lawyer.
Klass was brought to the 70th Precinct on an outstanding warrant on Aug. 23 for allegedly beating up and robbing the ex-husband of his girlfriend, according to Brooklyn prosecutors.
He was also charged with second- and third-degree assault on cops at the precinct when he tried to escape.
Cops were transferring him from the interrogation room to the precinct holding cell when Klass began to flail his arms and bolted for the exit around 9:30 pm Tuesday, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.
The DA’s office said that a detective and a police officer were treated at Kings County Hospital for minor cuts and scrapes from the ensuing struggle.
Klass was released in October after serving 12 years — 2/3 of his sentence — for attempted murder and robbery.
Twice Klass went before the state parole board to get an early release and twice he was denied.
He pleaded guilty in 1998 to shooting a friend seven times after his buddy told his girlfriend that he was cheating on her.
“I pulled out the handgun and pulled the trigger, and I held the trigger and I just let it go, it just went off. It just kept going and going and I jumped into his car and drove away,” he told the board.
He also pleaded guilty that same year to carjacking a former teacher at gunpoint, according to records.
Klass swore to the board that he had seen the error of his ways and promised that if they released him that he would never be violent or rob again.
“I’ve changed throughout my nine years in prison and I’ve learned to respect people and respect property and obey and abide by the rules, and my life now consists of me doing positive things and striving to be a better person,” he told parole.
“You’ll never see my name in the system again. I’m sincerely sorry.”
Great great these phony liberals are going to let this guy out on bail so he could go murder and rob some more people. What the beep is up with this system isn’t it enough evidence that he tried to escape while being interrogated. I hope he doesn’t make bail and he rots in Jail for killing one of the most righteous people I have met.
i hope they get the right man. not just a old criminal
like they did by rabe. y. werzberger a”h. they picked up just a old criminal. and told us that he did the crime
Great! This man was trying to escape in the police station and they let him free on bail while Rubashkin has to sit! What kind of country is this?
I hope if he’s not the guy they let him go, but if he is the guy there should be no excuses whats so ever. It just doesn’t make sense if he was innocent why would he try to run away while being interrogate. I could also be dam lechaf zechus and say maybe they were torchering him so thats why he ran away. I just really hope they get enough evidence to catch whoever this guy is, and if this is the guy they shouldn’t even think about bail .
The judge is obviously not convinced hes the right guy.Regardless he should not be getting bail due to his criminal history.
It is troublesome that $50,000 bail was set. In most homicide cases no bail is set and the defendant is placed in remand. Boruch stop worrying about liberals and start worrying whether there is enough evidence to convict the defendant
50k bail? Who is the Judge? should have been 500k
I was not going to say that – but look at picture of hold up and it looks to me like a white person not black
Why is it that whenever there is an article about Yoseph Robinson someone has to mention Rubashkin. It is to totally different cases why do you feel it is necessary to compare the two. It’s kind of annoying I what #7 said is right we should be focusing on whether there is enough evidence to catch the guy, and we should be praying that they find the right guy, and that justice is served.
Reply #2 . Looks like you are a believer in what n. Rosenberg is saying, thy picked up the one who shot him and don’t believe a word what Nucham says he is the biggest liganer ever
Eli Weinstein has to post $10 million bail, and yet this murderer has to post $50 thousand bail. I guess the judge is thinking that he cannot raise it, but what if some anti-semite or someone just wants too see him out of jail puts up the money, the guy will be on the streets (again) how pathetic!!!!
Thank you NYPD!
You were quick and efficient!
You are exactly what this city needs.
Mr. Obama, don’t even THINK of trimming our NYC police!
We need every one of them!
May the real hero Yosef Robinson a”h, rest in peace.
reply #12
i dont hear n. rosenberg and i have no idea what this man is tolking
looks like that you hear him. tobad for you. still i believe what i believe
that sometimes in a hi profile case they they will pick upanyone to show the working
To cool masmid, #13
Yep, you belong at the gemore.and stay a masmid. What are you doing here as a masmid in the first place?
Now, a) Weinstein had to post $5 million bail. Not 10 million as you say. b) I think it was easier for Weinstein to post the $5 mil then להבדיל for this murderer to post $50k. or even $500.
Mr.Rabashkin was denied bail. They raided his house and found nothing. Weinstein who who took as they write 200 m gets bail.
If RAV s. Rabashkin was tried in new york he would have gottin bail.Anti semitism played a big role in the Rabashkin case.
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM STINKS
I guess he’s an Obama voter and he promised to “change” which we know that it’s hot air!!!
I miss yosef… May he be a moiletz yosher for all of us
You are entitled to your opinion, but identifying a convicted felon in prison as “the tzadik” is like talking about “Chelm, the center of Jewish holiness and Yiddish Learning”.
Because one Jew was harshly sentenced for crimes he DID commit is hardly anti-semitism. show me twenty cases like this and you would have a point, maybe.
Was he the first Jew ever to come before Judge Reade? Were other Jews she sentenced given long terms like this? Or is he the only one?
And if it were anti-semitism, there were much easier, cheaper, quicker and surer ways to put him in jail for a long time.
SO STOP ALREADY WITH THIS IDIOCY!
Reply to #11 Show Quote U might b right, that the 2 cases r completely different, but we cannot stop thinking, talking, fighting and davening for Rubashkin the tzadik that is not guilty from any charges
wheres al sharpton? no apology? no sympathy? all of a sudden ur not coming out of ur shell. you didn’t realize that the victom here is the same color as you? whenever one of your people commits a crime your lips are shut. but where ever a crime is commited against your people, you start a protets in the streets.
Don’t compare rubashkin and Yosef robinsons cases please!!!! U don’t know details so stay quiet yentas!!!!