Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Valerie Owusu, 28, and Emmanuel Addae, 28, of Corona, Queens, were each sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found them each guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, for the 2021 beating death of Owusu’s 5-year-old son, King Owusu.
“The jury has spoken, but unfortunately, that will not bring back this young boy,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Notwithstanding such tragedy, this case highlights our resolve to protect the innocence of every child in Suffolk County and to bring accountability to those who would dare harm them.”
The evidence at trial established that between March 30 and April 1, 2021, Owusu and Addae brutally beat King with multiple instruments inside of their apartment in Lefrak City, Queens. The couple watched King’s physical condition deteriorate for approximately three days until King lost consciousness. During that time, both Owusu and Addae did not call 911, take King to the doctor, or provide any medical care to the child.
On April 1, 2021, Owusu and Addae brought King to a family member’s home in Brentwood where succumbed to his injuries. The Suffolk County Police Department was called to the Brentwood home after another family discovered that the boy was deceased. The child was taken to Southside Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The medical examiner who conducted the child’s autopsy testified that King was beaten from head to toe, and that his injuries, which were too numerous to count, caused his death.
On March 22, 2024, Owusu and Addae were convicted of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski.
On May 1, 2024, Justice Pilewski sentenced both Owusu and Addae to 25 years to life in prison. Owusu was represented by Rene Myatt, Esq., and Addae was represented by Raymond Baierlein, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Scott Romano of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Patrick Portella and Detective James Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.
