A Brooklyn grand jury has voted to dismiss a 20-year-old man charged with stabbing a homeless man to death on a subway ride in early June.
Jordan Williams successfully convinces Brooklyn grand jury that ex-convict Devictor Ouedraogo was stabbed to death on June 13 in self-defense, FOX 5 News report. The jury voted to drop the charges after Mr. Williams testified for 45 minutes about the incident.
Prior to the stabbing, Uedraogo allegedly harassed passengers on a J train in New York City. Around 8 p.m., Uedraogo reportedly got into an argument with Williams and his girlfriend, and Williams told jurors that a homeless man had beaten them. The two continued fighting, and after putting a headlock on each other, Williams reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Ouedraogo twice.
A grand jury has rejected charges against 20-year-old Jordan Williams, who had been charged with manslaughter in the murder of Devictor Ouedraogo on a J train on June 13.
His self-defence claim was bolstered by video footage of Ouedraogo presented to the grand jury. pic.twitter.com/8Rmcx69ekm
— Crime in New York City (@CrimeInNYC) June 29, 2023
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” Williams said of the stabbing, “I had no ill intentions and when I found out I couldn’t believe he was really dead,” according to FOX 5 News. (Related: Marine veteran speaks out about strangulation, says Jordan Neely brought ‘terrorism’ on train)
Multiple videos and witness interviews of the case were released to a grand jury before it acquitted Williams in Wedraogo’s death, the newspaper said. Their decision mirrors statements made by Williams’ attorney Jason Goldman at the time of his client’s arrest.
“You could be assaulted while sitting there, and your friends, family and loved ones could be assaulted and seriously injured. No, he could go to Rikers, maybe he could be released, so what should I do?” Goldman said of the incident. according to To CBS News.
New York law We allow the use of physical violence when we have reason to feel the need to protect ourselves or others. However, a person can only use lethal force if he believes the attacker intends to do the same.
