Suspected Subway Pusher Charged With Murder as a Hate Crime
Authorities say a 31-year-old woman who is accused of pushing a man off a subway platform into the way of a train in Queens last week did so because of his religion. Erika Menendez was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime in the death of Sunando Sen.
Authorities say a 31-year-old woman who is accused of pushing a man off a subway platform into the way of a train in Queens last week did so because of his religion. Erika Menendez was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime in the death of Sunando Sen.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Menendez selected her victim because she believed he was Muslim or Hindu. Sen was born in India and raised a Hindu.
The New York Times:
In a statement, Mr. Brown quoted Ms. Menendez, “in sum and substance,” as having told the police: “I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims ever since 2001 when they put down the twin towers I’ve been beating them up.” Ms. Menendez conflated the Muslim and Hindu faiths in her comments to the police and in her target for attack, officials said.
…Mr. Sen “was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself,” Mr. Brown said. “Beyond that, the hateful remarks allegedly made by the defendant and which precipitated the defendant’s actions should never be tolerated by a civilized society.”
During her arraignment Sunday morning, Menendez showed no remorse for her alleged actions, even going so far as to laugh off the charges.
Newsday:
Menendez laughed, smiled and nodded as prosecutors read from her alleged confession.
“I pushed a Muslim,” Assistant District Attorney Michelle Kaszuba said, quoting from statements she said Menendez made to detectives. “There is no reason. I just pushed him in front of the train because I thought it would be cool. I just pushed him because he was Muslim.” Asked whether she regretted the crime, Kaszuba said, Menendez told authorities: “Nope, I don’t like to regret anything. It is what it is.”
Judge Gia Morris, who ordered that Menendez be held without bail and undergo a mental health examination before her next appearance, reprimanded the woman for her court conduct, calling it “not appropriate.”
— Posted by Tracy Bloom.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
Courts & Law
The “crime panic” was a myth. But an analysis by The Appeal shows the narrative helped local police buy facial recognition software, drones, license plate readers, surveillance tech and more.
Politics
Democrats spent the last four years running away from police reform — handing a dangerous man an even stronger police and surveillance state.
Prison Reform
Many incarcerated women in the state are trapped in prison for crimes committed by men or abusive partners.
Media
If you say “many Americans are worried about crime,” then many Americans are going to worry about crime — even when it’s in a steady 30-year decline.
Social Justice
Some state legislators want to establish permanent victim services funds.
Editorial Cartoons
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.