A Turkish-born woman who moved to New York 6 years ago, was paralyzed instantly from the neck downward after a man shoved her in a moving subway car. The attack was described by a prosecutor as “completely without provocation” on Wednesday.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by NBC New York, Kamal Semrade (39), was charged with attempted second-degree murder and other crimes for the alleged assault on Sunday at a Manhattan subway station’s Upper East Side.
Carolyn McGuigan, assistant district attorney at Semrade’s arraignment on Wednesday, said that the 35-year old victim suffered a cervical spinal fracture and a laceration of her scalp after Semrade “grabbed her face with both hands and shoved with all his strength into the moving subway cars”.
Emine Yilmaz Ossoy was the victim of a verified online fundraising campaign organized in part by her husband.
McGuigan stated that she was immediately paralyzed, and is in a critical condition. She faces a high-risk of stroke or death.
McGuigan stated that the attack on the Lexington Avenue station and East 63rd Street occurred at 6:05 a.m. It was recorded by security cameras and witnessed by witnesses.
Ozsoy moved to New York City, where she was the former page designer for an Istanbul newspaper. She wanted to concentrate on her art and focus solely on it, according to her husband in a statement that he posted at the fundraiser. He said she was on her way into work when the incident occurred.
McGuigan stated that Semrade and McGuigan were both on the same train, and they got off at Manhattan.
McGuigan claimed that Semrade shoved her into the train when it was “rapidly leaving” the station.
Nancy Marrero, a witness to NBC New York, said: “I saw him walk up next to her on her left, with his palms out, just push her head into the moving train.”
Marrero, the station’s reporter, said that her body fell “in a circular motion and she dropped on the platform.”
McGuigan reported that Semrade had fled the station. Marrero told NBC New York that Ozsoy was lying on the subway platform and she asked if she would die because she could not feel her arm.
Marrero said to the station, “I told her, ‘you won’t die. Don’t worry. I’m right here.'” “I’m going to stay with you.”
According to court records, the New York Police Department arrested Semrade on Tuesday.
Ferdi Ozsoy thanked the authorities in the statement and all those who comforted Ozsoy after the alleged attack. He said that she had a difficult operation at Weill Cornell Medical Center, and he anticipated a long recovery journey which would likely hamper her career as an award winning artist, painter and Illustrator.
Ferdi Ozsoy said that he is his wife’s sole family in the United States, and he requested emergency visas to allow relatives to assist with her care.
He said, “After this she will need constant care.”
Semrade’s lawyer, who was remanded in custody at the hearing on Wednesday, did not respond immediately to a Wednesday night request for a comment. Semrade’s next court date is Friday.
