Suspect indicted in stabbings of homeless New Yorkers

By Randi Love

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New York Metropolis man accused of stabbing a pair of homeless males, one in all them fatally, in Manhattan parks was indicted on three counts, together with one depend of second-degree homicide, the Manhattan district lawyer mentioned on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old suspect, Trevon Murphy, has been held with out bail since he was arrested on July 13 within the stabbings of the lads, one in all whom survived. He’s additionally charged with tried homicide within the second diploma and assault within the first diploma.

Murphy approached the victims on two separate nights final month whereas they have been sleeping on benches in parks in several sections of Manhattan, based on an announcement from Alvin Bragg, the district lawyer, who mentioned the suspect gave a full confession to the assaults. He informed authorities that he selected to stab each victims within the decrease stomach.

Murphy is suspected within the stabbling of a 3rd homeless man however the grand jury has but to indict him within the reference to that incident, the New York Publish reported.

“These chilling assaults have been dedicated towards a few of our most susceptible group members,” Bragg mentioned within the assertion. “It’s unbelievably tragic that somebody misplaced their life just because they didn’t have the security that comes with a roof over their head.”

The stabbings have been the second case involving assaults on homeless individuals in New York Metropolis this 12 months. In March, Gerald Brevard III, 30, was arrested in Washington, D.C., after allegedly capturing 5 victims, two in New York.

Earlier than the July assaults, officers mentioned Murphy had been arrested and launched in April on his personal recognizance after he attacked a sleeping roommate in a homeless shelter within the New York borough of Queens.

Manhattan Supreme Courtroom Justice Diane Kiesel ordered a psychological well being examination for the suspect on the request of protection attorneys after his indictment, the New York Publish reported.

(Reporting by Randi Love in New York; modifying by Richard Pullin)