Assault in the First Degree with Knife dismissed after long court battle (Manhattan)

2018

Client was waiting at a busy intersection when he got into a verbal argument with another driver who approached our client when our client allegedly took out a knife and stabbed the other driver causing serious injuries that required surgery. We fought back on the grounds of self-defense. Self defense, in New York, is an affirmative defense meaning that you must prove that you properly applied self defense given the circumstances that unfolded. This can be done by calling witnesses to testify on your behalf, entering medical records into evidence, or by otherwise proving that you were justified in self defense. In this case, we were completely confident in our self defense strategy and we prepared it carefully and we refused any plea bargain. The case was ultimately dismissed.