Yonkers Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in 2024 Murder of Brother-in-Law

July 30, 2026

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced yesterday that Yonkers man John Singh, 55, was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for fatally stabbing his 78-year-old brother-in-law, Bernard Barua, in 2024.

The defendant was sentenced before Judge Maurice Williams on Wednesday to 25 years to life in state prison for Murder in the Second Degree and a concurrent determinate term of 25 years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, for Manslaughter in the First Degree. Judge Williams imposed the maximum sentence for Singh.

Singh was found guilty of both charges following jury trial in June. During the trial, the defendant testified on his own behalf and claimed self-defense, an argument the jury ultimately rejected.

DA Cacace said: “I am thankful for the strong sentence handed down to Mr. Singh. I’d like to commend the Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research, the Westchester County District Attorney’s High Tech Unit and our prosecutors for their efforts in delivering justice to the family of Bernard Barua. Our hopes are that this stiff sentence will send a message to all that senseless crimes like this will not be tolerated in Westchester.”

On Nov. 16, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m., members of the Yonkers Police Department responded to a Bronx River Road apartment after receiving a report of a stabbing, finding the defendant and the victim both suffering from stab wounds to the chest. The victim, a Yonkers resident, was found unresponsive in a bed, while the defendant was located near the entrance to the apartment

Both men were transported to a local hospital, where the defendant received treatment and the victim later died from his injuries.

The case was investigated by the Yonkers Police Department. The Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research and the Westchester County District Attorney’s High Tech Unit also assisted in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Division Deputy Chief Lana Hochheiser and Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ciuffi.

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