Mar 16, 2006 10:41 pm US/Eastern
Alleged White Castle Cop Attacker Speaks
Ayalla 1 Of 6 Men Charged In Beating Of Hernandez
by Ti-Hua Chang
BRONX (CBS) ―
Jonathan Ayalla is one of six young men charged with brutally beating police officer Eric Hernandez in January inside a Bronx White Castle.
Hernandez, who was armed and drunk, then stumbled outside and was accidentally shot by a fellow officer. He died several weeks later. In court Thursday for an arraignment on the grand jury indictment, 19-year-old Ayalla became the first of the group to give an interview, albeit brief.
" I feel bad," said Ayalla, "It was not supposed to end this way. But I felt my life was in danger. I felt threatened."
Click here to see a story on the Jan. 28 attack and accidental shooting of Hernandez. When asked specifically how he felt threatened, Ayalla responded, "Just threatened. "
He refused to answer more questions, but his mother did.
Jeanette Ayalla said, her heart went out to the family (Hernandez's), "but we are hurting too. We are victims too."
Also in court, defendants Daryl Massey and Edwin Rivera are charged with gang assault, attempted assault and assault in the second degree, but the scheduled arraignment on the indictment did not happen. Defense attorney Mark Jay Heller believes prosecutors have no case. Defense attorney Rudy Velez was more cautious.
"We have to see what the D.A. It's their move, " said Velez.
Sources, though, say the reason the Bronx District Attorney did not complete Thursday's arraignment is because the grand jury is still meeting and considering additional charges against Hernandez's attackers. The defendants will be back in court April 17. If convicted of all the grand jury's charges, each could face up to 20 years in jail.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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