POUGHKEEPSIE – “Courtyard Killer” Roy Johnson Jr., 36, was convicted by a jury this afternoon (Monday) for the August 2022 murder of a Poughkeepsie man. Johnson’s accomplice Devin Taylor, who actually shot Darren Villani entered a guilty plea earlier this year and was sentenced to prison for 22 years to life for his role in the Villani murder and the Courtyard hotel shooting in October of 2022.
At 3:38 p.m. on September 18, the jury notified Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin that a verdict had been reached in Johnson’s second murder trial. He is already serving a 58-year prison sentence for killing Paul Kutz in the Courtyard shooting spree. The jury found Johnson guilty of the murder of Darren Villani.
Johnson had struggled with Villani before Taylor shot the victim. As Villani’s lifeless body was lying on Mansion Street, Johnson stole cash from Villani’s car and removed a gold chain and watch from the victim. Johnson was wearing the stolen watch when he shot and killed the Courtyard victim two months later.
The jury in this trial convicted Johnson of the top charge of murder and four felony counts of robbery.
Sentencing before Judge McLoughlin is tentatively scheduled for November 13, 2023.
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