NY Murder-for-Hire Defendant Flips Off Court Cameras

During jury deliberations in his Orange County trial, a New York man accused in a murder-for-hire plot flipped off television cameras. Douglas McFarlane, who faces first- and second-degree murder charges in the 2019 shooting death of 26-year-old Sebastian Avilan-Medina, attempted to shield his face from cameras before making the gesture, according to News12.

Prosecutors allege that McFarlane was paid $10,000 by Sheldon Paul in March 2019 to kill Avilan-Medina, whom Paul suspected of burglarizing his home. The case went cold for five years until McFarlane, Paul, and a third individual, Dijion Constantine, were arrested in 2024.

Constantine, who was reportedly paid with marijuana for his role in the killing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June and is awaiting sentencing. Paul's first trial resulted in a mistrial, but he was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this month and faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is scheduled for sentencing in January.

McFarlane's trial concluded with closing arguments Wednesday, and the jury began deliberations. Prosecutors presented phone records, surveillance footage, and testimony from Constantine. Defense attorneys for McFarlane argued that the prosecution's case is circumstantial and lacks DNA evidence.

The victim's family has found the trial process emotionally taxing. Avilan-Medina's father, Bryan Avilan, told News12 that it is difficult to process the events and shield his young son, who was an infant when his father was killed, from the details of the case.