April 29, 2021 – A Mount Vernon man was convicted of murder on April 21 in the first jury trial to take place in Westchester County Court since last fall, when jury trials were suspended for a second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Savion Kirton, 27, was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree, for the June, 2019 stabbing of Jermial Rose in the neck, resulting in his death. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before rendering a verdict.
“This was a brutal and senseless crime,” said Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah. “Thanks to the diligent work of our prosecutorial team, Savion Kirton has been held accountable for his actions, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones.”
A short time before the murder, Kirton’s girlfriend was in a local store in Mount Vernon when Rose brushed up against her. She returned to her apartment and told Kirton what happened. Kirton, armed with a folding knife, immediately went to the store and confronted Rose on the sidewalk outside the establishment.
Security camera video captured Kirton at the scene, where he stabbed Rose in the left side of the neck with enough force that the knife crossed his throat and severed his right carotid artery. The knife, with Rose’s DNA present, was later located in Kirton’s girlfriend’s apartment.
Kirton faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on May 24.
The case was before Judge George Fufidio.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Strongin, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Major Case Bureau, prosecuted the case.
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Media contact:
Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
