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The unfortunate event took place on October 19 in the borough of Queens. Jasmer Singh was driving his wife home after a doctor’s appointment in preparation for an upcoming trip to India
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An altercation between the two drivers escalated
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Augustin, the accused allegedly punched Singh three times in the head and face, causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement
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Tragically, this resulted in Singh sustaining a severe brain injury, and he was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day
In a recent incident in New York, a 66-year-old Sikh man, Jasmer Singh, became the victim of a brutal attack following a car collision. A 30-year-old New York City resident, Gilbert Augustin, who hails from Queens, has been accused and charged with a range of offenses, including hate crimes, in connection with the incident, as reported by CNN, citing prosecutors.
The unfortunate event took place on October 19 in the borough of Queens. Jasmer Singh was driving his wife home after a doctor’s appointment in preparation for an upcoming trip to India. An altercation between the two drivers escalated when Augustin repeatedly referred to Singh, who was wearing a turban, as “turban man,” as per the prosecutors’ news release.
Amidst the confrontation, Augustin allegedly punched Singh three times in the head and face, causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement. Tragically, this resulted in Singh sustaining a severe brain injury, and he was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed her views on the incident, saying, “This is a case of a fender bender immediately escalating to hateful language and then brutal, deadly violence. We will show in court that it was a rage inflamed by hate that led to this senseless tragedy.”
However, during a court appearance, Augustin pleaded not guilty to a total of 20 charges related to the incident. These charges include first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime, second-degree assault as a hate crime, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting it, and operating a motor vehicle without a license, as indicated in court records and reported by CNN.
Following the attack, Jasmer Singh’s son, Multani, shared insights into his father’s character, describing him as an educated, noble, and simple person. Singh had immigrated to the United States from India to provide for his family
Notably, the incident was not initially categorized as a hate crime by the New York Police Department. A spokesperson for the department stated, “During a Queens district attorney’s grand jury, new information came to light that was not originally revealed to NYPD detectives.”
James Concemore Neville, the defense attorney representing Augustin, acknowledged the complexity of the case, referring to it as “a very difficult one for all parties concerned.” He emphasized his role in protecting Augustin’s constitutional rights.
Augustin is scheduled to appear in court on December 6. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison, according to the district attorney’s office, as reported by CNN.
Following the attack, Jasmer Singh’s son, Multani, shared insights into his father’s character, describing him as an educated, noble, and simple person. Singh had immigrated to the United States from India to provide for his family.
Multani also expressed his conviction that the attack was motivated by his father’s Sikh appearance, particularly his turban. He is calling for the incident to be treated as a hate crime, stating, “The guy was addressing my father with his costumes, with his turbans. There was no reason for someone to go in that intensity. My father was targeted and it is a possible hate crime.”
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