Astoria Man Who Murdered His Friend Gets 25 Years To Life: DA

ASTORIA, QUEENS -- An Astoria man will likely serve the rest of his life behind bars for luring his European friend to the United States with the promise of a new life and then murdering him in broad daylight with an antique revolver.

Alexander Bonich, 52, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Monday after a jury found him guilty in May of fatally shooting then-42-year-old historian William Klinger in Astoria Park in January 2015.

"This was a horrible crime committed in broad daylight in one of Queens' most popular parks," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The slaying was part of an elaborate scam Bonich had concocted to offer his friend and former colleague a teaching position and apartment in Astoria, which he sold to Klinger for $85,000. Neither actually existed.

"There was no job waiting for Klinger when he arrived and the apartment he'd paid for was actually the place the defendant's mother rented," Brown said.

Bonich and Klinger, both born in Croatia, had met in their home country overseas years ago and became fast friends, prosecutors said. When Klinger, who lived in Italy, said he was interested in moving to New York City, Bonich offered to help.

Klinger didn't yet know the plan was all lie when, on Jan. 31, 2015, Bonich pulled out an antique revolver and shot him in the back of the head during an afternoon stroll through Astoria Park near 19th Street and 23rd Road, prosecutors said.

The unprovoked attack sent him crumpling to the ground, where Bonich shot him once more before throwing the revolver into the East River, according to trial testimony.

Jurors found Bonich guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence.

Lead photo via Shutterstock.