The court date for the case involving a Halloween night melee in Howard Beach has been pushed back to Friday, November 30. The date was originally slated for Friday, November 16.
The later court appearance will serve to determine whether the defendants will be required to stand in a lineup, according to a spokesperson for the Queens District Attorney.
What many area residents are calling a racially-charged incident occurred on Wednesday, October 31 when a group of 30 to 40 black and Hispanic males from Brooklyn beat a group of white teenagers with a broomstick and a second hard object in Howard Beach, sending at least two to the hospital.
Eight of the men were arrested, and five were charged. Four of the five posted bail, while one remains in prison.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said investigators are still in the process of trying to determine if there is strong enough evidence to pursue a hate crime charge.
Court delay in Halloween racial melee
By Nick Brown
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