Man who stomped on Asian girl in Occasions Sq. assault sentenced to fifteen years in state jail
A New York man has been sentenced nearly three years after he was accused of violently attacking an Asian American girl in Occasions Sq..
Brandon Elliot, 41, was sentenced Wednesday to fifteen years in state jail. He had pleaded responsible to 1 rely of assault within the first diploma as a hate crime, and one rely of prison possession of a weapon within the third diploma.
In 2021, Elliot attacked Vilma Kari, then 65 years previous, when she was on her approach to church. Elliot shouted expletives at Kari, telling her, “You don’t belong right here,” earlier than toppling her and stomping on her head and physique repeatedly.
Elliot’s legal professional, Jamie Niskanen-Singer, mentioned in an announcement shared with NBC Information that his shopper had “expressed regret” for what Kari had gone by way of.
“Mr. Elliot has lengthy suffered from severe and well-documented psychological well being diagnoses, which was a contributing issue however certainly not a blanket excuse,” Niskanen-Singer mentioned within the assertion. “He has accepted accountability for his actions and sought to spare Ms. Kari of getting to relive the ordeal at a trial.”
Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said in a statement that he hoped the sentencing would ship a message to the Asian American and Pacific Islander group.
“Brandon Elliot assaulted a 65-year-old girl due to her Filipino descent,” Bragg mentioned. “I hope the closure of this case will enable the sufferer to proceed therapeutic and shifting ahead, whereas additionally sending a powerful message that we are going to search full accountability for anybody who commits violence in opposition to their fellow New Yorkers due to their race or ethnicity.”
Elliot, who had been on lifetime parole for murdering his mom in 2002, approached the sufferer, who’s Filipino American, on the sidewalk. Along with yelling racial insults, Elliot kicked her within the torso and knocked her to the bottom earlier than kicking and stomping on her head and physique, in response to a information launch from the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace.
At one level, a bystander tried to intervene, in response to the discharge, however Elliot threatened the person with a knife and fled the scene. Kari, who was taken to the hospital, was recognized with a fractured pelvis, brow contusions and contusions throughout her physique. Elliot was arrested two days later.
Video that captured the assault shortly went viral, prompting outcry from the Asian American group in opposition to anti-Asian assaults. The assault left Kari in shock, she beforehand told NBC News in 2021 through electronic mail, however continued to name for better consideration to violence in opposition to individuals of Asian descent.
“I really feel that there’s now extra consciousness and consciousness that has developed after my assault,” she wrote. “However there must be extra assist and schooling about what the AAPI group is going through at this second, particularly since there are instances that haven’t been reported and categorized as hate crimes.”
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