Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
“The brutality of the attack, and the fact that it was committed in full view of the victim’s three young children, stirs heartbreak and outrage in all of us,” DA Katz said.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a Jamaica man was recently charged with allegedly hitting his wife with his SUV and then stabbing her with a knife. The couple’s three children were in the vehicle at the time of the incident in front of her Flushing residence.
Stephen Giraldo, 36, was arraigned on a complaint charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Judge Scott Dunn remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on Jan. 12.
Photo Courtesy of Google
The attack took place near the intersection of Parsons Boulevard and Sanford Avenue.
According to the complaint, on Dec. 27, at approximately 5:20 a.m., video surveillance footage shows Giraldo enter the driver’s seat of a white Ford Explorer parked near the intersection of Parsons Boulevard and Sanford Avenue. The defendant’s three children—ages 11, 9 and 6—were seated in the car. The defendant’s 41-year-old wife Sophia Giraldo walked in front of the vehicle. The defendant allegedly told the children to “keep your seat belt on” and accelerated, barreling the car directly into the victim. After colliding with the victim, the car turned onto its side. The defendant allegedly crawled out the passenger side window of the vehicle and stabbed his wife with a knife. Giraldo was at the scene when police arrived.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries, including severe neurological damage, broken bones in her leg and a stab wound that punctured her liver.
“The brutality of the attack, and the fact that it was committed in full view of the victim’s three young children, stirs heartbreak and outrage in all of us. My thoughts are with the children,” Katz said.
If convicted, Giraldo faces up to 25 years in prison.
