A younger girl who pepper-sprayed a Muslim Uber driver on the Higher East Aspect over the summer time was indicted for a hate crime within the assault, the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace stated.
Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was indicted in New York State Supreme Courtroom on two counts of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment for the unprovoked July 31 assault close to Lexington Avenue and East 66th Avenue, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg stated in an announcement.
“Jennifer Guilbeault senselessly assaulted a Muslim Uber driver whereas he was simply doing his job,” Bragg stated. “The sufferer is a hardworking New Yorker who mustn’t need to face the sort of hate due to his identification.”
The driving force, Shohel Mahmud, later claimed that Guilbeault launched her assault merely due to his pores and skin coloration.
“Her pal, she is yelling, ‘Jen, Jen, what the f–ok, what are you doing? What’s occurring?’” Mahmud instructed The Publish days after the assault. “Her pal is asking ‘Why did you do this?’ And she or he say, ‘He’s brown.’”
Guilbeault was using within the backseat with the opposite girl at round 12:15 a.m. when she instantly sprayed the noxious substance within the 45-year-old driver’s eyes, based on video circulating on numerous social media websites.
Mahmud stated he hadn’t spoken to the ladies when he picked them up in Midtown.
“They’re speaking to one another,” he stated. “I’m not speaking to them, my job is to drive them. I begin going straight down the Central Park Traverse, straight right down to sixty fifth and Lexington. Abruptly, this woman for no motive spray me with pepper spray.”
Bragg stated Guilbeault ambushed her driver when he started praying in Arabic simply as he approached a purple mild.
Mahmud jumped out of the automotive — he thought the ladies have been attempting to rob him and his car.
However the automotive crept alongside with out him, so he hopped again inside — and Guilbeault sprayed him once more.
“I imply that is completely ridiculous,” added the father-of-three from Elmhurst, Queens. “I do nothing and she or he spray me. Pepper spray is against the law. She assault a driver for no motive. It is a hate crime.”
Cops arrested Guilbeault on the scene, however solely gave her a desk ticket at first.
Her legal professional stated the incident shouldn’t be charged as a hate crime.
“Ms. Guilbeault was not motivated by race, faith, nationwide origin, or another discriminatory issue,” Michael J. Alber stated in an announcement.
“This case must be checked out with all surrounding circumstances which embody assessing all the proof and lack of proof,” he added. “We look ahead to working with the District Lawyer’s workplace to completely vet all the info within the correct discussion board, which doesn’t embellish or exaggerate the claims, particularly the place the integrity and credibility of claims can correctly be examined.
Her subsequent courtroom date is Jan. 13.
