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Ziba Guy, one of two people arrested a little more than a year ago in connection with an alleged murder for hire plot, plead guilty in court Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree.
Court officials said Guy made the plea under the Alford doctrine, which means she does not admit guilt, but agrees the state has enough evidence against her to get a conviction.
Guy, 46, is expected to be sentenced May 15. The state has recommended 12 years, suspended after six years, and then five years of probation. She has the right to argue for a lesser sentence, court officials said.
Guy, a former OB-GYN in New York, initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, and jury selection was underway when she entered her guilty plea.
Milford resident Gregory Christofakis, 51, is awaiting trial in the case. He and Guy were both arrested in 2012 on charges of plotting to kill her former boyfriend and Christofakis’ estranged wife.
According to court documents, the twisted tale appeared to start in September of 2012 when Christofakis was in court and bumped into a man he met when the two were in jail together. Christofakis, owner of Greg's Auto Body on New Haven Avenue, brought the man back to the auto body shop and started talking to him about killing his former wife and his girlfriend's former boyfriend, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
The man left the body shop and went home, and a month later he contacted police about the plot. Concerned that children might be present in one of the targeted homes, the man agreed to become a “cooperating witness” for police and help them confirm that what he was saying was true.
Police fitted their witness with an electronic surveillance device and followed as he met with Christofakis at Greg's Auto Body.
“Investigators observed the cooperating witness meet with an individual they recognized as Gregory Christofakis from previous encounters and arrests,” the arrest affidavit states.
“The cooperating witness and Christofakis were observed entering a black Mercedes, which was parked in the lot of Greg's Auto Body.”
Police followed the car to Pruven Performance at 306 Boston Post Road, and then to a tattoo shop on Bridgeport Avenue, two businesses that Guy's ex-boyfriend owns.
In his conversation with the would-be assailant, Christofakis reportedly said that the ex-boyfriend “beat” Guy out of $150,000 and that he wanted payback.
Christofakis reportedly told the witness that “he needs something done.” He also said he is paying $1,000 a week to his estranged wife, and said, “I want that dealt with.”
As they talked, Christofakis agreed to pay $20,000 “for both jobs.”
Later, the two men stopped at Shop Rite on Cherry Street, where they picked up Guy. Christofakis told Guy about his plan, and she at one point responded that she did not wish anyone to be killed, according to the arrest warrant.
Nevertheless, she wrote down the name and address of her ex boyfriend and even provided directions to his home, the warrant states.
Christofakis is charged with attempt to commit murder and conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree. He is being held on a $1 million bond.