Ghostly vision of punch killer
Prayed for ‘spirits’ before train fight
A MENTALLY ILL teen “prayed to God to reveal the spirits” before he suckerpunched an elderly man — who fell onto subway tracks and died of a heart attack, according to court documents.
Edward Cordero, 18, pleaded not guilty at his Monday arraignment in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a manslaughter charge in the Jan. 3 death of Jacinto Suarez, 65.
According to court documents obtained by the Daily News, Cordero, who has a long criminal history, prayed before tussling with Suarez on the platform at the Jay St. Metrotech station in downtown Brooklyn.
Cordero told detectives Suarez tried to stab him with a pen, according to authorities. His relatives say Cordero is bipolar and schizophrenic, and he wasn’t taking his medication.
When Suarez moved to the opposite side of the R train platform, Cordero snuck up and sucker-punched him in the back of the head, according to statements made to police.
Suarez fell onto the tracks, but climbed back onto the platform, where he suffered a heart attack. He later died at Brooklyn Hospital.
“I want the guy to see my face” and see that “Jesus Christ defeats evil,” Cordero told police who arrived at the scene, according to the court documents.
At his arraignment, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo remanded Cordero to Rikers Island. His next court date is March 19.
He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.