POUGHKEEPSIE – Roy Johnson Jr. 36, the convicted “Courtyard Killer” who was sentenced to 58 years in prison for the October 2022 murder of Paul Kutz is back on trial for murder. He now stands accused of murder and robbery for the August 2022 murder of Darren Villani in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Johnson was indicted in April of this year for participating in the Villani robbery and murder along with Devin Taylor, his Courtyard accomplice. Taylor has already entered a guilty plea for the murder of Villani admitting to shooting the victim in the torso with a .45 caliber Glock while he and Johnson were trying to rob him.
Court documents say that Devin Taylor and Roy Johnson planned the robbery and execution of Villani in advance. After Taylor shot Villani in the middle of Mansion Street between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., he walked up to the victim and removed a gold chain from his neck. Johnson, who had been in the front seat of Villani’s car moments before, walked over to the dead body for a minute, then walked to the victim’s car, took an undetermined amount of cash, and returned to the body again. Johnson leaned over, removed Villani’s watch and a second gold chain, and then fled the scene.
Jury selection for the new trial began on Monday. The trial is tentatively scheduled to begin today (Wednesday). Johnson is facing a prison sentence of 25 years to life if convicted of the current charges.
