Charges of hate crime were not filed against a 23-year-old Bensonhurst man accused of randomly assaulting an Asian stranger who was walking down a Lower Manhattan street Thursday evening.
While prosecutors have determined that racial bias cannot be proved in the attack, it remains a heinous crime according to court papers, which emerged from the arrogance of suspect Salman Mufalihi early Saturday.
“It’s the worst nightmare of every New Yorker,” Assistant District Attorney Adam Johnson told Judge Annie Swarn in Manhattan Supreme Court, to be attacked by a complete and total stranger with a large knife without reason. “
The victim, who lives in Bellevue Hospital with a prolonged liver and other injuries, was walking on Worth Street around 6:20 pm when Mufalihi, wearing a black dress and a mask, grabbed him from behind. And stabbed an 8-inch knife around his neck, court papers allege.
Police involved in the arrest on the night of the attack said that Mufalihi told them, “I don’t like the way he saw me.”
An eyewitness told investigators that Mufalihi said “I’m sorry” because he ran away, court papers said.
A short time later, Mufalihi walked into a Hogan Place nearby district attorney and told security that he “stabbed a man in the block”, and asked where the police were.
He reiterated his confession during the proceedings of his arrest, Johnson told the court, Mufalihi said, “If he dies, he dies. He does not give.
Johnson said the victim may not actually be alive. In addition to perforated liver, he suffered major internal bleeding. Doctors also removed one of his kidneys and his adrenal gland. She remains in critical condition.
Swearing set bail at $ 500,000.
He was charged with attempted murder in a 2D degree, a B violent felony; A B felony, with first degree assault; Second degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
He faced a prison sentence of 5 to 25 years. Prosecutors said additional charges could be added as the investigation continues.
Court papers state that Mufli has a criminal history, including a guilty plea to a third-degree assault charge in 2019, and an open misconduct case from Brooklyn.
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