By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Osvel Diaz has been arraigned on a criminal complaint charging him in the beating of a 62-year-old worker at the Sunnyside Mini Mart in Woodside on June 17.
Diaz allegedly pummeled the victim until he was rendered unconscious and then continued to kick him as he lay motionless on the deli floor.
Diaz, 29, of Forest Hills was arraigned Thursday night on a complaint charging him with attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first and second degrees.
According to the charges:
On June 17, at approximately 11:17 p.m., video surveillance shows Diaz at the Sunnyside Mini Mart at 63-20 Broadway repeatedly punching and kicking employee Abdul Alshawish, 62, in the face, body and head to the point where the victim appears to be unconscious.
File Photo
“Business owners and their workers should never have to fear that they will be the targets of violence,” DA Katz said.
Diaz was then seen on video continuing to kick Alshawish in the face and head numerous times as the victim was motionless on the ground. The victim’s head appears to be striking against a store counter after being kicked.
The victim was taken to an area hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries including a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a mid-face separation and fractured eye socket, nose and sinuses.
Diaz was arrested Wednesday at his home.
He was also charged in two separate complaints with criminal mischief in the fourth degree, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments. He was allegedly seen on video surveillance on Jan. 24, between approximately 1:18 and 1:29 a.m., spraying paint on the side of a florist at 62-06 Flushing Ave. in Maspeth.
On Jan. 25, at approximately 1:53 a.m., he was seen on video surveillance spraying black paint on a private home on 71st Street in Woodside.
“Business owners and their workers should never have to fear that they will be the targets of violence,” Katz said. “We will do everything we can to protect shopkeepers because when our local businesses thrive, our communities thrive.”
If convicted, Diaz faces up to 25 years in prison.
