MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Merrick man was arraigned on murder charges for allegedly strangling his wife in February.
John Gerges, 60, was arraigned today before Judge Tammy Robbins on charges of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony) and Strangulation in the First Degree (a C violent felony).
The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on June 9. If convicted of the top count, he faces a potential maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
“This defendant allegedly strangled his wife after an argument inside their home,” DA Singas said. “These allegations represent the tragedy of family violence and my heart goes out to Mrs. Gerges’ son and other family members as they continue to mourn the loss of Marvat.”
DA Singas said that in the early morning hours of February 22, John Gerges allegedly strangled his wife, 58-year-old Marvat Gerges, inside their Merrick home following a 3:00 a.m. verbal altercation over the bathroom sink.
Marvat, who was homebound by severe arthritis, was found in the guest bedroom laying on a bed with marks around her neck by the couple’s adult son at approximately 2:30 p.m. on February 22, when he returned home from work as a security guard in Queens. The son called 911 immediately and Marvat was later pronounced dead at the home.
The defendant was not home at the time his son found the body and did not return to the home until the following morning when he was questioned and later arrested by Nassau County Police Department detectives.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Stefanie Palma of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting this case. Ira Weissman, Esq. represents the defendant.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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