Harv defense: Move ‘carnival’
A gangbanger accused of attempted murder — and bailed out by by his ex-girlfriend — was charged Wednesday with killing her new lover, police sources said.
Michael Israel, 33, who has a lengthy criminal record and is a Bloods gang member, was hit with charges on Feb. 26, 2019, for allegedly shooting a 32-year-old man in the stomach the previous Jan. 24. Israel’s girlfriend at the time, who is the mother of their child, secured the $100,000 bond to spring him from jail in April 2019.
But the couple broke up and she started dating James Santiago, 42, sources said. On Sunday, Santiago was hanging out with the woman in her home on W. 15th St. near Neptune Ave. in Coney Island when Israel allegedly stabbed him repeatedly in the chest. Santiago was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, but the wounds were fatal.
The woman, who has not been identified, initially told investigators she didn’t know what happened, sources said. Cops arrested Israel in Harlem on Wednesday.
The “carnival-like” atmosphere surrounding Harvey Weinstein’s rape case makes the defense want to pack up their big top and move on.
Lawyers for the former Hollywood honcho plan to file a changeof-venue request and want his trial delayed, paperwork submitted in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday revealed.
“Reporters and camera crews fill the entrance to the courthouse and line the hallways leading into the courtroom, celebrity press conferences denouncing the defendant occur on the courthouse steps, and protests and demonstrations are audible inside the courtroom during proceedings,” defense attorney Arthur Aidala wrote in a lengthy motion.
Aidala said Victoria’s Secret supermodel Gigi Hadid’s jury duty appearance on Monday further added to the “perfect storm of prejudice” hindering the disgraced movie producer’s shot at a fair trial.
“The presence of Ms. Hadid, who informed the trial court that she is able to be a fair juror even though she has met Mr. Weinstein before and is a noted friend of Weinstein accuser Cara Delevingne, only contributes to the carnival-like atmosphere,” court papers state.
British actress and model Delevingne accused Weinstein (inset) of making unwanted sexual advances toward her in 2017 and telling her she’d never make it in Hollywood if she was openly gay, the “Carnival Row” star told Net-aPorter.
Hadid is due to return to court on Thursday for additional screening.
“This case would have more than enough media attention if the only celebrity involved was Mr. Weinstein; instead, it has received practically double the media attention because many of his accusers are also celebrities.”