Post by Logan on Dec 17, 2016 19:43:33 GMT -6
A 49-year-old Malden man accused of slamming a brick into the face of a complete stranger on a North Station platform when the man told him he was from Mexico may have been inspired by comments made by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, a defense attorney said yesterday.
Stephen Fusco was ordered held on $20,000 cash bail and pleaded not guilty to charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, violation of constitutional rights, and assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation.
“Like many of the persons who come to this court, Mr. Fusco suffers from mental health problems. On that night, he had not taken his prescribed medication for a period of time and he was in the throes of trying to cope with his mental health,” attorney Arnold Abelow told the court. “His problems that night might have been exacerbated by what the president-elect would say about immigrants.”
Prosecutors say Fusco approached the victim the night of Aug. 4 while the man was waiting to board a commuter rail train at North Station and after the man told him he only spoke “a little” English and was from “Mexico,” he smashed him in the face with a brick. He was later arrested by transit police.
Read more: www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/12/lawyer_donald_trump_may_have_inspired_suspect_in_attack
Stephen Fusco was ordered held on $20,000 cash bail and pleaded not guilty to charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, violation of constitutional rights, and assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation.
“Like many of the persons who come to this court, Mr. Fusco suffers from mental health problems. On that night, he had not taken his prescribed medication for a period of time and he was in the throes of trying to cope with his mental health,” attorney Arnold Abelow told the court. “His problems that night might have been exacerbated by what the president-elect would say about immigrants.”
Prosecutors say Fusco approached the victim the night of Aug. 4 while the man was waiting to board a commuter rail train at North Station and after the man told him he only spoke “a little” English and was from “Mexico,” he smashed him in the face with a brick. He was later arrested by transit police.
Read more: www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/12/lawyer_donald_trump_may_have_inspired_suspect_in_attack