Community Corner
Man Charged in Church Ave Bar Beating Found Not Guilty
Man Charged in Church Ave Bar Beating Found Not Guilty
In July 2009 Ricardo Muniz was in the Gran Prestigio bar on Church Avenue, and he got into a fight with Jose Cruz. Yesterday he was found not guilty of assault, based on allegations that Muniz had been the victim of gay bashing. The New York Post reports:
Muniz had been dancing with and kissing another man inside the Gran Prestigio bar in Kensington in July 2009, when Cruz began making comments.
A fight erupted on the street and Muniz got the better of the scrap.
"Clearly, Mr. Muniz is the victim here of a gay bashing," [defense lawyer Deron] Castro said. "I believe the NYPD chose to sweep that under the rug and not treat it for what it was – a gay bash."
However, Muniz remained in jail on an immigration hold, which was sparked by the assault charges, and now he faces deportation to his native Mexico.
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