A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man in New York City is expected to plead not guilty, by reason of insanity.
Elliot Morales [right], 33, was arrested for shooting Mark Carson [below], 32 in May, and is currently being held on Rikers Island without bail. When he appeared in court on Tuesday, Morales's attorney Kevin Canfield said he planned to present psychiatric evidence to the full trial against his client, according to DNA Info.
While no existing mental health issues have been reported in Morales's case, Canfield told reporters that he might be able to argue that Morales was experiencing temporary insanity.
Morales has been accused of gunning down Carson at the corner of Sixth Avenue and West Eighth Street after hurling several antigay slurs at Carson and a friend.
Morales is due back in court on Sept. 13.
Elliot Morales [right], 33, was arrested for shooting Mark Carson [below], 32 in May, and is currently being held on Rikers Island without bail. When he appeared in court on Tuesday, Morales's attorney Kevin Canfield said he planned to present psychiatric evidence to the full trial against his client, according to DNA Info.
While no existing mental health issues have been reported in Morales's case, Canfield told reporters that he might be able to argue that Morales was experiencing temporary insanity.
Morales has been accused of gunning down Carson at the corner of Sixth Avenue and West Eighth Street after hurling several antigay slurs at Carson and a friend.
Morales is due back in court on Sept. 13.
The hate-filled homophobe who shot Carson at point-blank range in the West Village boasted of the murder moments after pulling the trigger, court documents claim.
“He thought he was tough, and I shot him. It’s the last thing he’ll remember,” Elliot Morales told cops according to court documents released at his arraignment back on June 17.
“Guy thought he was tough in front of his bitch- so I shot him. Diagnosis is dead, doctor.”
Cops say Morales shot Mark Carson on May 17 while hurling anti-gay epithets in the neighborhood known for its deep ties to the gay rights movement.
The disturbed suspect shook his head as the charges of second degree murder as a hate crime, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon were read aloud in Manhattan criminal court. He pleaded not guilty.
“This young man’s tragic death serves as a reminder of the discrimination that many of our family members, coworkers and friends still face,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said.
“By instilling fear, hate crimes tear at the very fabric of our communities.”
No friends or family appeared to be in the courtroom for Morales, who wore a white T-shirt. He remains in custody at Rikers Island.
Court papers charge that his deadly night of mayhem began just before midnight when he urinated outside of a restaurant on Barrow St.
A worker at the eatery chastised Morales, who then walked into the restaurant and flashed a gun while hurling homophobic slurs, according to documents.
Morales then left the restaurant and crossed paths with Carson and another man. Morales let loose another barrage of anti-gay epithets and shot Morales in the head near West Eighth St. and Sixth Ave., cops say. Moments later a police officer tackled the madman as he again brandished his gun.
His insanity was evident during his interrogation, excerpts of which were included in court documents.
“I keep bringing you deeper and deeper into my hell,” Morales allegedly said. “Just wait till I get these cuffs off, the first bitch- cop I see I’m gonna take out.”
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