NEW YORK – New video from inside a New York City warehouse shows the moment a worker was stabbed to death by the girlfriend of the man police say the warehouseman had just killed, for which he now faces a felony charge. murder.
Pressure continues to mount on the Manhattan district attorney to drop the murder charge against Jose Alba, the Washington Heights warehouse clerk accused of killing Austin Simon, who attacked him behind the counter.
Those pleas are likely only to get louder, as video released Monday showed what immediately led up to the stabbing that left Simon, 35, dead on July 1. Investigators said there was an argument when Simon’s girlfriend’s card was declined by the payment system when he tried to buy a bag of chips for his daughter, and Alba took it from the girl.
That’s when police say the girlfriend returned with Simon, who went behind the counter to corner and confront Alba. After being pushed against a wall, the deli clerk grabbed a knife and stabbed Simon multiple times, the video shows.
From a new angle of the video, Simon’s girlfriend can be seen grabbing Alba’s arm, then pulling a knife from her bag and stabbing him in the upper arm, as Simon collapses. New photos showed the injuries Alba suffered in the violent altercation.
The girlfriend has not yet been charged.
“Let’s hope they dismiss this case against José Alba, he doesn’t deserve to be accused like this,” said Francisco Marte, of the Bodega and Small Business Association in New York.
Supporters of Alba, 61, say surveillance video showing the shocking incident could help see the worker cleared of the charges. Over the weekend, United Bodegas of America publicly urged Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to drop all charges against the employee.
“The Alba family does not have the money for a defense attorney, and it is a waste of taxpayer money to bring murder charges against a working man with no known criminal record. We are hopeful that District Attorney Braggs will listen and understand UBA’s request.” to withdraw all charges”, said Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the UBA.
The group representing the five-borough wineries has already spoken with Bragg, but hopes a face-to-face meeting on Tuesday will advance their progress toward getting Alba acquitted of all charges.
A spokesman for Bragg said they can’t comment on the ongoing investigation, but previously said the office was “continuing to review the evidence and the investigation is ongoing.”
Alba was released Thursday after spending nearly a week on Riker’s Island. Her bail was reduced from a quarter of a million dollars to $50,000. As part of her release, Alba was forced to surrender her passport, remain in the five wards, and submit to electronic surveillance.
Alba faces murder charges after the fatal stabbing inside the Blue Moon Convenience Store on Broadway near 139th Street. There is growing outrage over her arrest, with many wondering: Was it murder or self-defense?
Paramedics transported Simon to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
New York Mayor Eric Adams has previously said it appeared Alba was acting in self-defense, saying “it’s time for New Yorkers and Americans to start standing up for people who follow the law. And that’s what I’m going to do.” to do”.
Adams’ words drew praise at the UBA news conference on Sunday, where Mateo thanked the mayor for “being with us.” Marte said that many wineries and small businesses are nervous and sometimes work scared.
“Sometimes we are scared, because we don’t know if they have a gun,” he said.
The case has grabbed international headlines. Those who knew the store clerk said they believe Alba was simply defending herself.
“For me, I know him personally, he lives in my building. He’s the kindest man I’ve ever met, if he says it’s self-defense, it’s self-defense to me,” said Chris Sanchez, who said he knows Alba most of the time. his life. life. “I would have done the same”.
In a statement, the Ombudsman’s Office, which defends Alba, said that “they continue to investigate this case and gather evidence in defense of Mr. Alba. The video of this case speaks for itself: Mr. Alba was simply doing his job when he was aggressively cornered by a much younger and larger man.
THE FACTS THAT LEADED TO THE DISPUTE
Investigators said the fight started after Simon’s girlfriend tried to pay for an item, but her card was declined.
Alba would have told the woman that the card had no funds and she went to tell Simon. He came back enraged and invaded the space behind the grocer’s counter to attack him a few minutes later.
The winemaker took a knife and stabbed Simon three times during the struggle.
Paramedics transported Simon to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
THE CHARGES AGAINST WINERY MANAGER JOSIT IS ALBA
The Manhattan Prosecutor’s Office charged Alba with second-degree murder on Saturday and requested bail of $500,000, which was finally set by the judge at $250,000, and was lowered to $50,000 on Thursday after a negotiation between prosecutors and lawyers.
Alba’s lawyers and relatives have pointed out that he is a working father with no criminal history, and figures such as former Republican mayoral candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels urban patrol, Curtis Sliwa, gathered in his defense.
Shows of support for Alba rained down on social networks after the tragic event and in the midst of a crisis of violence that is plaguing New York City.
ABOUT AUSTIN SIMON
Austin Simon was not unknown in court, he had a history of arrests for robbery and assault.
He was on probation after several years in jail for assaulting a police officer, but his relatives assured the media that he was a good man and a good father.
FLOOD OF SUPPORT FOR ALBA
“It’s time for New Yorkers and Americans to start standing up for people who follow the law. And that’s what I’m going to do,” the mayor said Thursday.
The case has grabbed international headlines. Those who knew the store clerk said they believe Alba was simply defending herself.
“For me, I know him personally, he lives in my building. He’s the kindest man I’ve ever met, if he says it’s self-defense, it’s self-defense to me,” said Chris Sanchez, who said he knows Alba most of the time. his life. life. “I would have done the same”.
In a statement, the Ombudsman’s Office, which defends Alba, said that “they continue to investigate this case and gather evidence in defense of Mr. Alba. The video of this case speaks for itself: Mr. Alba was simply doing his job when he was aggressively cornered by a much younger and larger man.
THE LEGAL PROCESS AGAINST ALBA
Despite being released on parole, Jose Alba will not be able to leave the five boroughs and will be electronically monitored.
The next court date is scheduled for July 20.
It is expected to be an extensive judicial process.
Alba would have recently asked the owner of the winery for a vacation to go to the Dominican Republic to rest, but now her plans will have to wait.
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