Michael Enright — the aspiring filmmaker who allegedly slashed a cab driver in New York because he was Muslim — was denied bail on Monday after his lawyer argued that Enright was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and was an alcoholic, The New York Times reported.
Enright started experiencing problems after he was embedded with a military unit in Afghanistan, where “he saw death and destruction firsthand,” his lawyer, Lawrence M. Fisher said.
His lawyer had proposed that his client wear an electronic ankle monitor and be released on $250,000 bail, but Justice Richard D. Carruthers of State Supreme Court said he would wait to decide about bail until after Enright’s arraignment in two weeks, The Times reported.
It was also revealed in court on Monday that Enright allegedly made teasing comments to the taxi cab driver about Ramadan and sexual restrictions before he allegedly assaulted the driver, according to assistant district attorney James Zaleta.
Enright’s parents and the chairman of the film department at the School of Visual Arts, where Enright is a student, appeared in court, according to newspaper.
Enright has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault as hate crimes in New York. As TPM reported, the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into the incident. Friends confirmed to TPM that Enright had an alcohol abuse issue.
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