Hate crime charged for subway killer

NEW YORK - Agence France-Presse

The deadly incident has scared many New York subway riders. AFP photo

A 31-year-old New York woman was scheduled to appear before a judge yesterday after being charged with murder as a hate crime for shoving a Hindu man to his death in front of an oncoming subway train.

Erika Menendez of the Bronx borough was motivated by hatred of Muslims and Hindus, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. “I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims. Ever since 2001 when they put down the twin towers, I’ve been beating them up,” she told police.

Menendez, who is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court, faces from 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The victim, 46-year-old Sunando Sen, was born in India and raised Hindu, a roommate told The New York Times. The incident took place late Dec. 27 at a station on the number 7 line in Queens.

Menendez, who was speaking to herself as she paced along the platform, according to witnesses, pushed the man as the train was pulling into the station. He apparently had his back to Menendez and did not see her. The incident has also scared many New York subway riders as they kept closer to the walls as trains rolled into station.