The family of a groom-to-be who was fatally stabbed in a melee outside of a Staten Island bar says it’s a “gross injustice” that his alleged killer is escaping criminal charges, especially in light of newly released surveillance videos they say bolster their claims.
Antonio Lacertosa’s family said in a statement that they’re “mystified” that the District Attorney’s office was unable to secure an indictment against Redinel Dervishaj, especially in light of the video that allegedly shows Dervishaj and a cohort instigating the incident.
http://liarcatchers.com/electronic_surveillance.html
The two videos were posted on YouTube Sunday night, and show members of Lacertosa’s engagement party milling around outside the Espana Restuarant in Annadale around 2 am on March 17 when they were confronted by Dervishaj and the eatery’s manager, Ridi Zeneli.
“While the crime scene video causes even more pain, at the same time, it unequivocally proves” Dervishaj and Zeneli “were the aggressors and protagonists,” Lacertosa’s tearful mom Linda told The Post.
The video also shows the pair getting roughed up by members of the engagement party — Dervishaj is thrown over a car, but gets up running. The family says he could’ve easily fled at that point — but instead he bolted into Espana, where he allegedly got a butcher’s knife.
The stabbing isn’t shown on the tapes, but the 27-year-old Lacertosa is seen walking out of the alley next to the restaurant clutching his side before collapsing.
After a three week investigation, a grand jury declined to indict Dervishaj last week, accepting his explanation that he’d acted in self-defense.
“We will live forever knowing that there was no justice in this case but we know that Anthony is in a better place,” his mom said.
Dervishaj’s lawyer, Thomas Reilly, has maintained that the video shows his client was in grave danger.
“You clearly see my client getting beaten, thrown over a car. He then runs to his own car to escape and is chased down by six guys who are throwing bottles at him,” Reilly said.
“He reacted how anybody would react when they fear they’re about to be beaten within an inch of their life.”
