Atty: NYC subway stab suspect was defending himself after being attacked with bottle, headlock

Lawyer: NYC subway stab suspect was defending self

NEW YORK — A lawyer for a man charged with fatally stabbing two New York City subway riders says he was defending himself after a group of passengers broke a bottle over his head and grabbed him in a headlock.

Prosecutors charged Brenddy Garcia with second-degree murder Friday. They did not press charges against two other men whom police had arrested earlier on murder charges.

The 19-year-old Garcia didn’t enter a plea at his arraignment in a Manhattan court. He is being held without bail.

Prosecutors say he overreacted and lashed out after other passengers tossed or kicked a bag of trash at him on a subway train early Sunday.

But defense lawyer Pamela Roth says any actions Garcia took were in self-defense.

Darnell Morel and Ricardo Williams, both 24, were killed in the fight. A third man was wounded.