Co-Workers Slain
Ex-Transit Worker Beats Murder Rap

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

An unemployed transit worker accused of killing two transit supervisors was acquitted by a jury Oct. 11.

Darryl Dinkins, 42, a former Cleaner for New York City Transit, had been in jail since Feb. 28, 2004, the day after police arrested him for the shooting deaths.

Had Prior Run-Ins

Luigi Sedita, 61 and Clives Patterson, 46, were found inside a trailer that was parked in a fenced-in, 75-acre rail yard in Brooklyn's Gravesend section. Medical Examiners estimated the shootings occurred around 4:30 a.m.

Police quickly identified Mr. Dinkins as the primary suspect, noting that he had a history of problems with the two supervisors, who had disciplined him for playing dominoes on the job. NYC Transit fired Mr. Dinkins a few months before the shootings.

Mr. Dinkins was able to give details about his evening leading up to the murders - he'd been on a drinking and gambling spree. But he grew hazy about where he had been after midnight, and eventually confessed to the killings when police continued to question him. He refused to sign the confession, however, and wouldn't repeat it before a video camera. He later recanted.

Claim Suicide Try

Police said Mr. Dinkins tried to hang himself in his cell after he was arrested. Prosecutors submitted his confession, alleged suicide attempt and other circumstantial details as evidence of his guilt. They pointed out that both supervisors had been sitting when shot. Neither was robbed, although both had wallets with them. The prosecution said the yard was so big and hard to navigate that only someone familiar with it could have found the trailer.

Defense attorneys hammered at the investigating Detectives' credibility and focused on the lack of detail in Mr. Dinkins's confession, saying it was false and coerced.

Jurors deliberated for one day before returning a not-guilty verdict. Mr. Dinkins was cleared of all charges.