Wednesday, March 2, 2005

D.A. BROWN: QUEENS YOUTH CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN VICIOUS FATAL BEATING OF BUS MECHANIC RETURNING HOME FROM WORK; FACES UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a 18-year-old youth has been charged with manslaughter in the vicious beating death early yesterday in Richmond Hill, Queens of a bus mechanic returning home from work.

District Attorney Brown said, “The defendant is alleged to have punched, kicked and stomped the victim, causing his death, in a brutal and vicious attack that was completely unprovoked. The victim was a hardworking family man who was returning home from work. The crime was violent, mindless and lethal and the charges will be vigorously prosecuted.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Antonio Roque, 18, of 114-09 Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, who has been charged with Manslaughter in the First and Second Degree and faces a sentence of up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

District Attorney Brown said that according to the criminal charges on March 1, 2005 at about 1:00 a.m. in front of 119-18 Jamaica Avenue near Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill, Queens the defendant attacked the victim, Jagat Balram, 52, a bus mechanic for Consolidated Bus Lines, repeatedly punching, kicking and stomping him and causing his death.

The District Attorney said that the defendant was arrested yesterday shortly after the attack by police officers of the New York City Police Department’s 102nd Precinct. The defendant was arraigned earlier today before Queens Criminal Court Judge William Harrington who ordered him remanded without bail and set a return date of March 16, 2005.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Robert Salvatore of the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct Detective Squad under the supervision of Sergeant Paul Dean, Squad Commander, and the overall supervision of Chief of Detectives George F. Brown.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel A. Novak of the District Attorney’s Homicide Investigations Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Peter T. Reese, Bureau Chief, and Peter J. McCormack III, Deputy Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A Saunders.

It should be noted that criminal charges are merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.