Heather Yakin

hyakin@th-record.com

GOSHEN - One of the Newburgh men charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in a home-invasion shooting that left a college student dead and her boyfriend seriously injured has hired a high-profile defense lawyer.

Cornelius Stubbs, 48, is charged with co-defendant Carlos A. Rivera, 47, in the killing of Chelsea Debidin, 21, and the wounding of 20-year-old Esteban Marrero in the Marrero family’s New Windsor apartment.

Stubbs was originally represented by lawyer Jeffrey Chabrowe on a domestic violence case, but Stubbs did not retain Chabrowe for the murder case. Judge Robert Freehill appointed Matthew Witherow to take over as assigned counsel.

On Thursday in Orange County Court, Freehill noted on the record that Stubbs’ family has now retained lawyer Murray Richman. Richman is a highly respected Bronx lawyer known for more than 50 years of legal experience, and for representing clients including rapper DMX and hip-hop and entertainment mogul Jay-Z.

Richman is currently involved in a trial, and was not available to appear in Orange County on Thursday, Witherow told the judge.

Freehill set March 26 for the next case conference, and for an appearance by the Richman.

He also placed on hold any decision in Senior Assistant District Attorney David Byrne’s request to consolidate the murder indictment and the domestic violence indictment into one case.

Rivera remains with court-assigned lawyer Andrew Greher.

Prosecutors say Stubbs and Marrero, acting in concert, broke into the Marrero apartment around midnight between Sept. 20-21 and opened fire, shooting Debidin, of Walden, and Esteban Marrero and terrorizing Marrero, his sister, Stephanie Marrero, her 5-year-old child with Stubbs, and two nieces who were there.

Stubbs also faces attempted first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the 2011 shooting of another woman with whom he had a child. Prosecutors say Stubbs sent someone to “do his dirty work,” and the woman was shot four times. In a separate indictment, Stubbs faces felony counts including stalking, coercion and criminal contempt in prior incidents in which he’s charged with abusive behavior toward Stephanie Marrero.

Both defendants remain in Orange County Jail without bail, awaiting trial.

hyakin@th-record.com