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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Driver High on PCP Who Fatally Hit East Village Worker Convicted of Murder

 Mohammed Akkas Ali's family surrounded his hospital bed as he was recovering from driver Shaun Martin slamming into him in the East Village. Ali died Jan. 1, 2014 of complications from the injuries he sustained.
Mohammed Akkas Ali's family surrounded his hospital bed as he was recovering from driver Shaun Martin slamming into him in the East Village. Ali died Jan. 1, 2014 of complications from the injuries he sustained.
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Rukanul Islam

MANHATTAN — The man who fatally struck a beloved East Village vendor when he plowed his car into the worker while high on PCP and methamphetamine was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges.

Shaun Martin, 35, was high on drugs while speeding down Second Avenue on the morning of June 19, 2013, when his Nissan Altima suddenly cut across three lanes of traffic, and struck three workers at the Village Farm and Grocery, including Mohammed Akkas Ali, 62, at the corner of East Fourth Street and Second Avenue, according to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance.

Ali, who worked at the flower shop in the deli, died more than six months later after suffering a serious brain injury.

Vance said Martin turned his car into a “murder weapon” when driving high on drugs.

“In doing so, he chose to endanger the lives of every New Yorker he encountered that day,” the DA said.

“As proven at trial, he acted with depraved indifference to human life, directly causing the death of Mohammed Akkas Ali and seriously injuring two of his coworkers. He never touched the brakes as he hurtled through the East Village.”

A fourth person was also injured by debris from the crash while he was riding a Citi Bike.

Martin is facing 25 years to life on the top charge after being convicted by Judge Melissa Jackson at the end of a bench trial in New York State Supreme Court.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 21.

His lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.