The New York Daily News reported that a "boozed-up bigot" attacked Muslim cab driver Ahmed Sharif in the throat, lip, arm and hand with a pocket knife. He was treated at Bellevue Hospital and released with minor injuries.
Alleged attacker Michael Enright, 21, was captured after attempting to flee and sent to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and was arraigned on Wednesday. That raises an interesting question, though: Will his New York criminal attorney attempt an insanity defense?
Many might argue that bigotry of any kind is a form of insanity, although that may not fly in a court of law. Michael Enright was charged with felony attempted murder, which will be tried as a hate crime.
"Hate crimes" carry enhanced sentences one step higher than if the same crime was not motivated by hate according to the state's Hate Crimes Act of 2000. For example, a 2nd degree felony would be tried and sentenced as a 1st degree felony if prosecutors can prove it was a hate crime.
Police said the accused attacker was "very, very intoxicated" when he entered Ahmed Sharif's taxi cab. The cab driver said he was friendly at first before asking him if he was Muslim, to which he replied in the affirmative. A few moments of silence were followed by the sudden attack, police claim.
Ahmed Sharif fought back and Michael Enright fled the vehicle. An officer was notified by the driver and eventually apprehended the suspect. In addition to the hate crime-enhanced attempted murder charge, he also was charged with assault with a weapon as a hate crime, harassment as a hate crime and criminal weapon possession.
In a statement, Ahmed Sharif expressed his sadness and disappointment regarding the incident:
"I have been driving a taxi more than 15 years. All four of my kids were born here... I never feel this hopeless and insecure before."
Related Resources:
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Hate Crime: The Violence of Intolerance (FindLaw)
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Search New York Criminal Lawyers (FindLaw)
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New FBI Hate Crime Statistics Released (FindLaw's Blotter Blog)
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