Update on State Senator Kevin Parker’s Criminal Trial
Posted by Brooklyn Young Republican Club
Sen. Parker is a thug, prosecutor says as trial opens
by Thomas Tracy / Brooklyn Paper
‘State Sen. Kevin Parker is an unhinged thug who assaulted a New York Post photographer last year, prosecutors said on Wednesday as the lawmaker’s long-delayed trial for the crime began in Supreme Court.
Parker is charged with injuring Post staff photographer William Lopez during the now infamous confrontation outside the four-term legislator’s East Flatbush home.
In her opening statement, Assistant District Attorney Kathleen DiGiovanni prepared the jury for Parker’s defense that the prosecution is a media-driven political witchhunt.
“[Parker] attempted to wrongfully take a camera from [Lopez] and in doing so damaged his camera, damaged his car and caused an injury — nothing more and nothing less,” DiGiovanni said. “This is not about politics or the media, but the actions of this defendant.”
Sure enough, Parker’s lawyer rebutted DiGiovanni, saying that the case against Parker is “entirely about politics,” defense lawyer Lonnie Hart explained.
“The only reason Mr. Parker is in here right now is because of his position as a state senator from Brooklyn,” Hart said. “If he was a bus driver or worked at a post office, we would not be sitting here right now because this is the most ridiculous case that’s ever been tried in Supreme Court.”
By WILLIAM J. GORTA / NY Post
State Sen. Kevin Parker had a Cinderella moment after allegedly scuffling with a Post photographer when a police captain found the politician’s shoe inside the lensman’s damaged car — and ordered the arrest of the one-shoed senator, the captain testified yesterday.
Parker allegedly attacked William Lopez in May 2009 — injuring Lopez’s finger and breaking a camera — after Lopez snapped shots of the pol outside his Flatbush home.
But Parker was apparently accorded special privileges by police.
Before the flap, Parker called the precinct commander demanding Lopez be moved from a legal parking spot across from the senator’s house. Sgt. Mark Smith was sent to roust the fotog.
Lopez moved the car, but Parker allegedly flipped out when he snapped pictures to accompany an article about the senator’s house being foreclosed.
Officer Yanique Jean testified that she was ordered to arrest Parker, but didn’t handcuff him. “Is this unusual?” asked prosecutor Kathleen DiGiovanni.
“Yes,” Jean replied.
“Was it based on direction from your supervisors?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jean answered.
At the direction of the desk officer, she brought Parker to the juvenile room — still uncuffed — instead of a holding cell.
Parker balked at providing some data, she testified.
“I said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, I have to ask you,’ ” she said.
Parker replied, “I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m the one who acted the way I did.”
Parker will testify today.
