Two days after the Sikh community called for justice in the beating death of Jasmer Singh in South Richmond Hill, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Gilbert Augustin was criminally charged with manslaughter and assault as hate crimes.
Photo courtesy of Mayor Adams’ office
A Jamaica man was criminally charged with manslaughter and assault as a hate crime on Oct. 31 in Queens Supreme Court in the death of 66-year-old Jasmer Singh, just two days after the Sikh community gathered at a South Richmond Hill temple in an emotional call for justice.
Gilbert Augustin, 30, of 111th Avenue, was arraigned on a 20-count indictment charging him with manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime; manslaughter in the first degree; assault in the second degree as a hate crime and a slew of other crimes after he allegedly became enraged following a vehicular collision with Singh and killed him.
According to the charges, Singh was driving a blue Toyota on the Van Wyck Expressway just before noon on Oct. 19, when he collided with a black Ford Mustang driven by Augustin. Immediately following the collision, Singh and Augustin pulled over in front of 87-34 Van Wyck Exwy. in Kew Gardens to assess the damage. A witness observed Augustin get out of his car and approach Singh, who remained seated in his vehicle, and engaged him in a verbal dispute with the victim.
During the dispute, the witness heard Augustin say to Singh, “No police, no police.” The witness also heard Augustin repeatedly refer to Singh as “Turban man,” according to the charges. While arguing angrily with Singh, Augustin told the victim that he was not going to allow him to go home and did not want him to call the police. According to witness testimony and video surveillance, Augustin reached into Singh’s car and grabbed Singh’s cell phone. Singh got out of his car and followed Augustin, who appeared to be holding two phones. The pair appeared to argue. Singh eventually recovered his…
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