Man charged with hate crimes for beating 66-year-old Sikh man to death in NYC
By Carl Samson
The man accused of fatally beating an elderly Sikh man after a fender bender in New York City has been charged with hate crimes.
What happened: Gilbert Augustin, 30, and the deceased, Jasmer Singh, 66, collided on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens just before noon on Oct. 19. After the crash, Augustin exited his black Ford Mustang and got into a verbal dispute with the still-seated Singh, calling him “turban man,” according to a witness.
At some point, Augustin grabbed Singh’s phone, which prompted the latter to step out of his blue Toyota. Singh managed to retrieve his device, but just as he walked back to his car, Augustin allegedly punched him three times in the head and face.
Singh fell to the ground, with the back of his head hitting the pavement. He was then taken to a hospital, where he later died from a brain injury.
The charges: Augustin was arraigned on a 20-count indictment on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to the following charges, which include hate crimes:
- manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime
- manslaughter in the first degree
- assault in the second degree as a hate crime
- assault in the second degree
- aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree (two counts)
- operating or driving a motor vehicle without a license (two counts)
- leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
- operating a motor vehicle or permitting it to be operated in this state without having in full force financial security (three counts)
- operating, driving or parking a motor vehicle without proper license plates (three counts)
- operating or driving a motor vehicle with improper plates
- reckless endangerment in the second degree
- unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree
- reckless driving
- stopping, standing or parking a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
Call for justice: Singh was driving his wife from a doctor’s appointment at the time of the collision. His son, who attended Augustin’s arraignment, said his parents were leaving for a trip abroad.
“The plan was shattered. They were happily boarding a flight to India. Now, she will have my father’s ashes in her lap in the same flight. We are in bad shape, and I want the justice,” said Subeg Singh Multani, as per CBS News.
What’s next: If convicted, Augustin faces up to 25 years in prison. He is set to return to court on Dec. 6.
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