Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on August 29, 2021

The lawyer for the man accused of repeatedly stabbing a rabbi in broad daylight last month outside a Jewish day school in Brighton said he is very sick.

He is a very ill individual, Janice Bassil said Thursday at Khaled Awads Suffolk Superior Court arraignment on nine indictments, including violating Rabbi Shlomo Noginskis constitutional rights.

Awad, 24, previously was arrested in Florida on a minor charge and found to be incompetent to stand trial, Bassil said.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Diane Freniere scheduled a Sept. 28 hearing to determine whether he is too dangerous to be released on bail or certain conditions.

Bassil entered not guilty pleas on Awads behalf to armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (a knife), assault by means of a dangerous weapon (a gun), assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation resulting in bodily injury, violating an individuals constitutional rights, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds.

Assistant District Attorney Ursula Knight gave a harrowing account of the July 1 attack, which began when Awad approached the rabbi outside the Jewish day school as a childrens camp was underway. The victims style of dress made him identifiable as a Hasidic Jew, and a large menorah on the schools grounds made clear that the institution was affiliated with Judaism, Knight said.

Awad allegedly drew a weapon that appeared to be a gun and made what the rabbi interpreted to be a demand for the keys to the school van, she said. When the rabbi attempted to hand over the keys, Awad instead motioned for him to get into the van, Knight said.

Awad then put away the weapon and pulled out a knife, she said. The rabbi fled to a nearby park, she said, and the defendant chased after him, even into traffic, stabbing him nine times, most significantly to the left side of the chest, near the heart, as well as to the rabbis left arm, used to defend himself against the fury of the repeated slashing.

Witnesses called 911, and officers found Awad minutes later in a nearby alleyway, where he brandished a gun at them, Knight said. The officers convinced him to drop his weapon, and he was taken into custody after a struggle.

In addition to the clear depiction of the physical attack, she said, evidence developed in the aftermath clearly indicated the defendants motive was hate.

People who knew him told investigators he hated Jews, Knight said.

This act of violence nearly killed the victim, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said Wednesday. But it also traumatized the entire Jewish community and deeply impacted the people of Brighton.

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Man accused of stabbing rabbi in Brighton is very sick, his attorney said - Boston Herald

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