Patrick Destine of Queens was charged with murder in the death of David McKenzie of Baldwin, Nassau DA says

The Queens man who allegedly beat another driver to death and stole his credit card following an April crash in Baldwin pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office said in a news release.

Patrick Destine, 26, of Hollis, was remanded to the Nassau County Jail following his arraignment before Acting Nassau Supreme Court Justice Howard Sturim on charges of second-degree murder, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and two counts of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, prosecutors said. He was indicted by a grand jury May 4 for the incident, which claimed the life of David McKenzie of Baldwin.

“After a late-night collision in Baldwin, an intoxicated Patrick Destine allegedly followed the victim, David McKenzie, and repeatedly kicked and stomped on his head and left him to die just steps away from his home,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement. “When the defendant was taken into custody, he also had McKenzie’s credit card and identification. David McKenzie was a father and grandfather, and our thoughts remain with his family as they grieve his loss.”

Police arrested Destine after he was found fleeing the April 15 crash scene on foot with his girlfriend, Aisha Pitt, 19, of Elmont.

Destine was driving a gray 2004 Infiniti G35 with no headlights on when he ran a stop sign and crashed into the 2003 Honda minivan driven by McKenzie, 54, at the intersection of Schuman Place and Forest Avenue at about 10:50 p.m., police said at the time.

Prosecutors said McKenzie began walking away from the crash site when Destine followed him and began kicking and stomping on his head multiple times. He and Pitt then took McKenzie’s credit card and driver’s license, prosecutors said. Destine's blood alcohol content was 0.12 following the crash, police said at the time. 

Police found McKenzie bleeding from the head. He was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight April 16, prosecutors said.

Destine’s defense attorney, Robert Tsigler of Mineola, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Police said Destine has a prior conviction for robbery and had been arrested before for violent crimes.

Pitt, who was initially charged with fourth-degree stolen property, fifth-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, is now facing a second-degree assault charge. She is due back in court June 28. Pitt’s court-appointed attorney, Adam Neal of Mineola, could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Homicide Bureau Chief Daryl Levy and Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexander DePalo of the Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.