Victims recount horrors in Times Square car-ramming trial

FILE- A smashed car sits on the corner of Broadway and 45th Street in New York's Times Square, May 18, 2017, after the car was driven into a crowd of pedestrians. Prosecutors are largely relying on the testimony of victims to make a case against Rojas that could put him behind bars for decades. His lawyers are saying he had a mental breakdown that day and had no capacity to understand what he was doing. NEW YORK — — For some survivors, the sounds are a part of what still haunts them.

Elsman’s harrowing story is central to the ongoing trial of Richard Rojas, the man behind the wheel of a Honda Accord that killed Elsman’s daughter and injured more than 20 other people in an alleged attack with a motive that remains elusive. Rojas, 31, has pleaded not guilty to murder, assault and other charges.

Prosecutor Alfred Peterson conceded Rojas had some mental challenges. But Peterson also argued the defendant was a military veteran who had led a mostly normal life and didn’t meet the insanity standard.Experts are slated to address the mental health question later in the trial.

“I looked at her eyes and I just knew she was dead. They were fixed. They weren’t looking around,” she said. “All I could do was scream.” On impulse, “I ran after the car,” he said. “I’m not super proud of that. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He said he gathered himself and stopped to call 911.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

At Times Square rampage trial, victims recount day's horrorsThe screaming people, car tires screeching and an engine revving are sounds that still haunt them
Source: WOKVNews - 🏆 247. / 63 Read more »

New Times Square subway entrance includes an elevator — and the largest mosaic in the systemThe new Times Square subway entrance adds 18 new CCTV cameras, an elevator, and gives commuters a look at a sweeping 468-foot mosaic by the artist Nick Cave — the longest mosaic in the subway system. But are there places for people to sit? hopefully the cameras will all function all the time and hope they got a good elevator company I wonder how much of the taxpayers money could have been saved by cutting out the frills...
Source: Gothamist - 🏆 456. / 53 Read more »

37 Times People Were TERRIFIED Of Confrontation, And Took The Passive-Aggressive Route Instead'My husband ate the last donut, so I adjusted the mirrors and seat in his car.'
Source: BuzzFeed - 🏆 730. / 51 Read more »

Amy Schumer’s $15 Million NYC Penthouse Has an Insane 3,000 Square Feet of Outdoor SpaceThe comedian's floor-through apartment is a not-so-little slice of heaven in the city.
Source: RobbReport - 🏆 309. / 63 Read more »

High Park fire update: Teller County blaze is 87% contained and has burned 2.5 square milesFirefighters in Colorado continued working on two wildfires in critical weather on Thursday with moisture and cooler weather on the way.
Source: denverpost - 🏆 13. / 72 Read more »