[Benjamin]

Police in New York have arrested a woman in connection with the death of a man pushed in front of a subway train.

Prosecutors said Erika Menendez, 31, was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime.

She is alleged to have said that she hates Hindus and Muslims.

The victim, 46-year-old Sunando Sen, originally came from India. Witnesses said he was standing on a platform at Queens subway station when a woman shoved him on to the tracks.

Mr Sen was a resident of Queens and ran a printing business on the Upper West Side.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Ms Menendez, from the Bronx, admitted pushing the victim, saying: "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."

Queens District Attorney Richard A Brown said that, according to the charges, Ms Menendez was seen talking to herself while seated on a bench at the subway station and was also seen pacing on the platform and muttering to herself.

"The defendant is accused of committing what is every subway commuter's worst nightmare - being suddenly and senselessly pushed into the path of an oncoming train," he said.

"The victim was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself. Beyond that, the hateful remarks allegedly made by the defendant and which precipitated the defendant's actions can never be tolerated by a civilised society."
Fled the scene

Mr Sen's death on Thursday was the second such killing this month.

A homeless man, Naeem Davis, has been charged with murder after allegedly pushing a passenger to his death in the Times Square subway station at the beginning of December.

New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said such attacks were rare.

"You can say it's only two out of the three or four million people who ride the subway every day, but two is two too many," he told a press conference.

New York police spokesman Paul Browne said in a statement that investigations into the incidents were continuing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20865887

[Ammi]

..a very disturbed lady..I wonder why it was second degree murder...

[BBfanUSA]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..a very disturbed lady..I wonder why it was second degree murder...

random act perhaps? She did it on purpose but not way in advance.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by BBfanUSA

random act perhaps? She did it on purpose but not way in advance.

..yeah I guess so..evil thing to do, but she can't be of 'sound mind' to do something like that...

[armand.kay]

Why do rasist things happen around public transport?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

Why do rasist things happen around public transport?

..I think they happen around other things as well..but transport does seem to be highlighted atm...maybe just because people are easily able to video things on public transport...I think this case is different, she's obviously very disturbed to do something like that....I wonder if she lost someone in 9/11..

[Nedusa]

Not sure why prosecutors thought this crime did not qualify as "First degree" murder. I would have thought this was a premeditated act one which if accomplished would result in certain death for the victim.

Maybe this woman has mental health issues and would plead insanity which would beg the question why was she allowed to wander around at large if she had the potential to murder innocent strangers. Tube stations are not the safest places we think they, perhaps all tube stations should have the safety doors/barriers similar to the ones now in place on the Jubilee line on London Undgd.

[SharkAttack]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Not sure why prosecutors thought this crime did not qualify as "First degree" murder. I would have thought this was a premeditated act one which if accomplished would result in certain death for the victim.

Maybe this woman has mental health issues and would plead insanity which would beg the question why was she allowed to wander around at large if she had the potential to murder innocent strangers. Tube stations are not the safest places we think they, perhaps all tube stations should have the safety doors/barriers similar to the ones now in place on the Jubilee line on London Undgd.

Easily this. Taken them all through my life and never went to the edge when trains approached. As late teens, we used to walk in the tunnels, and "walk the tracks", unbeknownst to our parents or the conductors of said trains.

A divider/barrier doesn't only seem a good idea, but an obvious one. Queues on NYC subways. Get used to it!

[Jake.]

That's awful!

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Not sure why prosecutors thought this crime did not qualify as "First degree" murder. I would have thought this was a premeditated act one which if accomplished would result in certain death for the victim.

Maybe this woman has mental health issues and would plead insanity which would beg the question why was she allowed to wander around at large if she had the potential to murder innocent strangers. Tube stations are not the safest places we think they, perhaps all tube stations should have the safety doors/barriers similar to the ones now in place on the Jubilee line on London Undgd.

Because it wasn't premeditated. She reacted to the situation, she wasn't watching this person for months to build up a picture of where they go and what times they are there. She was in the moment and reacted.

And all of us are only a severe mental health episode away from having the capacity to murder someone.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

Why do rasist things happen around public transport?

To be fair, religion's a choice, not a race, but I agree that this was totally unprovoked and sick.

[bbfan1991]

That is horrific and RIP to the victim. What an disturbed woman!

[Marcus.]

rip to the man

but what a silly lady

[Shaun]

oh just kill the bitch, no one would miss her