West Brighton Staten Islander, an alleged gang member, pleads guilty in murder of Queens man

Enlarge Michael Oates Sayfuddiyn Plair, 19, of West Brighton, is escorted into State Supreme Court, St. George, on an upgraded second-degree murder charge. (Staten Island Advance/Michael Oates) Staten Island slaying suspect Sayfuddiyn Plair led to court for arraignment gallery (3 photos)

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A reputed Bloods gang member from West Brighton pleaded not guilty yesterday to fatally stabbing a man who got between him and his girlfriend’s brother during a domestic dispute.

Sayfuddiyn Plair, 19, entered the plea at his arraignment in state Supreme Court, St. George, before Justice Leonard P. Rienzi. He was indicted Friday on second-degree murder and other charges in connection with the Feb. 20 stabbing of Emery Miller, 22, inside a Stapleton apartment.

Miller, of Queens, died of his wounds on March 6.

According to authorities, the victim was a family friend of the mother of Plair’s child, and was sleeping over at her apartment at 75 Hill St.

 

Muder suspect Sayfuddiyn Plair arraignment today in Staten Island's State Supreme Court Staten Island suspect Sayfuddiyn Plair, 19, accused of slaying a victim who interceded in a domestic dispute pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges today. Watch video

Plair, who lives on the 800 block of Henderson Avenue, went to the apartment and began arguing with his child’s mother, also 19, according to a law-enforcement source.

The confrontation got so heated that the woman’s father and brother intervened. Plair went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, according to the source. When Miller stepped between Plair and the woman’s brother, Plair stabbed him in the chest, the source said.

Plair’s lawyer, Thomas Reilly, has said his client was acting in self-defense.

Following his arraignment yesterday, Plair remains remanded without bail. His next court date is April 28.