Indian's subway death: NY woman indicted, deemed fit for trial

A 31-year old woman, accused of shoving an Indian immigrant to his death in front of a subway train last month as she hated "Hindus and Muslims", has been found mentally fit to stand trial and was indicted on charges of murder as a hate crime by a US grand jury.

Erika Menendez of Queens pushed Sunando Sen, 46, in front of an oncoming subway train on December 27, telling authorities later that her hatred for "Hindus and Muslims" prompted her to do so.

Menendez had shown no remorse for her actions during an initial court hearing after her arrest last month, often laughing uncontrollably and telling a authorities that she "pushed a Muslim... in front of the train because I thought it would be cool."

At the hearing, she was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that at a hearing before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Chin-Brandt in a criminal court yesterday, Menendez was deemed fit to stand trial.

Indicted on charges of one count of second-degree murder as a hate crime and two counts of second-degree murder, Menendez faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

She has been ordered to return to court on January 29, when she would be arraigned on the indictment.

She remains held without bail.

"The defendant is charged with having been motivated by hate when she allegedly shoved an innocent man into the path of an oncoming train. The violence ... has no place in a civilised society...

"When hate crimes do, regrettably, occur, they will be condemned in the strongest possible terms and those responsible will be brought to justice to answer for their actions," Brown said in a statement.

Witnesses said Menendez was seen muttering to herself while sitting on a bench at a Queens subway station on the night of December 27.

... contd.

ALSO READ

India calls on China for steps to avoid incidents like Daulat Beig Oldi

Miraculous escape: Woman rescued after 17 days of Bangladesh building collapse

Prince Harry mania sweeps Washington!

Imran Khan's surge raises prospect of fractured mandate as Pakistan goes to polls