Man convicted of fatally stabbing girlfriend in New York City hotel last year
NEW YORK -- A jury has convicted a man of fatally stabbing his homeless girlfriend in a New York City hotel last year, but couldn't reach a verdict on the slayings of her young children and the attempted slaying of a third child.
The jury deliberated for four days before finding 26-year-old Michael Sykes guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder in the death of Rebecca Cutler, also 26.
Sykes fatally stabbed Cutler inside a Staten Island hotel in February 2016. He was also charged with in the deaths of 4-month-old Maliyah Sykes and 1-year-old Ziana Cutler and trying to kill 2-year-old Miracle Cutler, who survived her stab wounds.
The jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision in the attacks on the three children. Maliyah was Sykes' daughter.
Sykes testified that Cutler had stabbed the three children and then he killed Cutler.
Prosecutors say they'll seek a new trial.