The person accused of killing 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee revealed on Wednesday that he was "attempting to assist the girl," based on prosecutor stories.
Lee was discovered on February 13 in her New York Metropolis condominium in Chinatown with a number of stab wounds, and police rapidly arrested 25-year-old Assamad Nash on the crime scene, after surveillance digicam footage obtained by the New York Submit confirmed the person following her into her condominium constructing simply earlier than the assault.
Nash was arraigned on Wednesday within the Manhattan Supreme Courtroom on costs of homicide, housebreaking, and sexually motivated housebreaking, all first-degree offenses.
In accordance with the New York Submit, court docket paperwork state that Nash advised police, "I used to be attempting to assist this feminine getting damage by different folks. I used to be attempting to assist the girl."
Nash entered a plea of not responsible on Wednesday and allegedly claimed to police that he was additionally a sufferer after authorities discovered him hiding underneath Lee's mattress coated in blood.
The Submit said that court docket paperwork element Nash asking police a number of occasions if Lee was "okay," and Assistant District Legal professional Dafna Yoran mentioned in court docket, "The defendant said that he was simply attempting to guard the sufferer that there was one other man who stabbed them each and escaped."
Legislation enforcement advised The Submit that safety digicam footage reveals Lee coming into her condominium constructing at roughly 4:20 a.m., and the suspected killer caught the door proper earlier than it closed and walked in behind her. Nash adopted her as much as her sixth-floor condominium, staying one flooring behind her always, and rapidly entered her condominium behind her earlier than the door shut.
The police have been referred to as round 4:30 a.m. when Lee's neighbors heard screaming. Officers managed to get into the condominium an hour later after the suspect barricaded himself inside, and Lee was pronounced useless on the scene.
The brutal assault added to the already rising considerations about anti-Asian violence, though authorities have but to find out Lee's dying as a hate crime. Asian communities in New York Metropolis held a rally shortly after the assault, calling consideration to the violence, the Washington Submit reported.
Anti-Asian crimes escalated in New York Metropolis within the 12 months 2021, and The New York Police Division reported in December that incidents focusing on Asians rose by 361 %.
Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg said in a press launch on Wednesday that the indictment of Nash "marks the start of our pursuit of justice within the identify of Christina Yuna Lee, a brilliant and beloved New Yorker who shouldn't have had her life lower quick in such a violent, stunning method in her own residence."
"Ms. Yuna Lee's dying not solely devastated her family members, however struck concern into the hearts of our AAPI neighbors, who've already suffered far an excessive amount of ache in recent times. All New Yorkers should be protected and safe, and we are going to guarantee accountability for this mindless homicide," Bragg added.
Nash, who was residing in a homeless shelter on the time of the crime, has additionally been related to a few different felony circumstances, involving an alleged unlawful sale of a subway fare, punching a commuter within the face and fleeing from police after being caught inflicting harm on MetroCard machines, WNBC reported.
If convicted, Nash faces a minimal of 25 years in jail. His subsequent court docket date is scheduled for July 18, The Submit reported.
Newsweek reached out to the Manhattan District Legal professional's Workplace for added remark however didn't hear again in time for publication.
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