The older cousin of a disabled 15-year-old boy has been convicted of brutally beating him with a belt in a savage hour-long attack in her Upper West Side apartment, then forcing water down his throat, causing the vulnerable youth’s death, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Manhattan D.A. Bragg has announced the guilty conviction of 43-year-old Johnette Booker, who caused the death of her 15-year-old special needs cousin in June 2021 while he was staying at her Upper West Side apartment.Booker was found guilty on a slew of manslaughter and assault charges, and is expected to be sentenced on March 7.
“Johnette Booker has now been found guilty for causing the death of her younger cousin. She physically and emotionally tortured her cousin with special needs, in what can only be described as absolutely shocking and horrific behavior. Instead of providing him with love and care when she assumed the role of caregiver by taking him into her home for the summer, she preyed on him, and her actions and omissions caused his tragic death. No child should ever be treated this way, and I thank our prosecutors for their hard work to deliver accountability in this case,” said District Attorney Bragg.
Daquan Armstead, 32, is charged with three counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime, two counts of third-degree attempted assault as a hate crime and seven counts of second-degree aggravated harassment, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
A homeless man accused of the brutal stabbings of two victims in separate subway attacks — including an off-duty MTA subway cleaner — spiraled out of control after the first victim stole his blanket and used it to sleep on the train, prosecutors said Thursday.
