Coram murder suspect pleads not guilty
Prosecutor says Keith Amato beat man to death with baseball bat
10 comments below
RIVERHEAD--A Coram man repeatedly beat his estranged wife's boyfriend with a baseball bat shattering his skull, a Suffolk prosecutor said Monday during his arraignment on a second-degree murder indictment.
Keith Amato, 30, of Coram, allegedly beat Christopher Lulenski, also 30, to death almost two weeks ago with a baseball bat in his neighbor's driveway on Bonnie Lane in Centereach and fled the scene. Police found Mr. Amato allegedly overdosed inside in his car hours later in Ronkonkoma.
Assistant District Attorney Kerriann Kelly said that following an argument between the two men, Mr. Amato went to his car to get a baseball bat and used it to repeatedly hit Mr. Lulenski. Mr. Amato, Ms. Kelly explained to the court, continued to hit Mr. Lulenski "even though he went down after the first hit."
He stopped, walked away and returned to begin hitting Mr. Lulenski a second time, she said.
"It was a very brutal attack," she said.
A postmortem examination found Mr. Lulenski's skull was shattered and contained several fractures, Ms. Kelly said.
Following Mr. Lulenski's death, Mr. Amato made numerous oral admissions regards his actions to a police officer and the good samaritan who notified police of his whereabouts, she said.
Mr. Lulenski's family was not available for comment.
Wearing jail issued green scrubs, his wrists restrained by hand cuffs, Mr. Amato listened intently to the allegations before entering in a plea of not guilty before the court. He was then remanded without bail to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.
Mr. Amato's mother sat with her arms folded in her lap, while her rabbi comforted her.
Outside the courtroom, criminal defense attorney, Ray Perini of Hauppauge, said his client does not have a prior criminal record. The allegations brought forth against Mr. Amato don't attest to who "this young man is," Mr. Perini said.
Mr. Perini said that there was a confrontation on the lawn between his client and Mr. Lulenski. However, his law firm is still investigating the incident, he said.
After Mr. Amato's initial arrest, Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the Suffolk Police Homicide Squad, told The North Shore Sun Mr. Lulenski had recently moved into a basement apartment with Mr. Amato's estranged wife, whose name is being withheld because she is the witness to a crime.
Mr. Amato allegedly broke into a rear glass door in the couple's apartment and an argument ensued between the two men, which continued outside, police said. Mr. Amato, according to police, then allegedly beat Mr. Lulenski with a baseball bat and fled the scene.
When Sixth Precinct police officers arrived, they saw Mr. Lulenski lying in the driveway of the home, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
After Mr. Amato's apprehension the next day, he was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for an overdose and released in to the custody of the suffolk County Sheriff's Office. However, he is presently being housed in the jail's general population, not protective custody, a representative from the Sheriff's Office said earlier this week. Mr. Amato is scheduled to appear in court for a conference on Dec. 2.
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10 comments found
Keith : 11/28/2011
Though nobody deserves to be murdered. If any of you knew what actually was said and what physically went down you would all have different opinions . And if you knew Keith you would know how harmless even though he was big and intimidating he was a Big Teddy Bear With a Bigger mouth. I didn't know Chris so I can't speak on him. But for people to think Keith went over like a BULLY looking for trouble you are wrong I personally was in contact w/him just minutes before this all happened he was tricked into going to the house and Chris was instigating. Was Keith wrong for the choice he made ? YES!!!! It should've resulted in a fist fight but it didn't and Keith will pay for his decision for the rest of his life. And his sentence I believe was too steep I think 10yrs rather then 20yrs was the right call . The murder was not pre meditated and he wasn't in the right state of mind. All of this could've been prevented and nobody is speaking about his Wife and her involvement she was the biggest instigator and I hear no blame on her part . Shes a real piece of worki!!!! Should've just let her go Kieth. The whole thing is a mess but to finish I just want to send my condolences to the Family of the Deceased and also to the Family and friends of Kieth. We miss you buddy some things just aren't the same without you . Can't wait til the day your hitting clean up again MEAT.
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chris was a good man : 1/26/2011
i'm his nephew and if anybody says that chris was a bad man is completely wrong he was a good man and watched me through my childhood we had many good times and he is still a rolemodel to me this day
chris : 8/28/2010
KARMA... Karma doesnt come back in murder, How dare you say things about a man that can no longer defend himself. Chris! Infact he was a wonderful and kind man. Your opinion on him doesnt matter to us anyway. His love for his family and friends far out weighs your unimpression comments. As for the Christian women...chris is in heaven and will watch over u for your love and kindness.
: 3/27/2009
Not for nothing but Chris Lulenski was a real peice of work. He was a pretty big guy that beat people much weaker then himself. He wasnt a good guy he was a nasty Malicious person. Its no surprise he is dead. Karma is a funny thing.
Chris Lulenski : 11/11/2008
God forgive me but I hope the guy that did this lives to regret it; he took a good guy out. This was my best friends son. A family is devastated and will never be the same again. As a Christian woman I should not pass judgment however, as someone who knew and loved Chris and see's what this has done to his entire family and countless friends, I can only hope that this guy gets what he deserves.
