Harlem Park Murder Trial Features Mother of Defendant Explaining Role of Severed Father

Harlem Park Murder Trial Features Mother of Defendant Explaining Role of Severed Father by Matthew & Russell Lee, Patreon Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 2 – A murder three summers ago in Harlem's Riverbank State Park is the subject of a trial in 111 Centre Street this week.   On Monday, witnesses included a Park Police officer who described finding the victim's body after hearing shots, and administering CPR. On cross, the defense noted his lack of memory on what he did with the victim's shirt (and knife), and his having left the shell casing at the scene.    Next up was the emergency room doctor from Mt. Sinai Morningside, who painstakingly gave the spelling of her Dutch college upon request. She testified that the victim had no pulse or heartbeat and at 7:16 she pronounced him dead. On cross, the defense delved deeper into the defendant's clothing until objections were sustained.     A gardener, a Harlem transplant, took the stand. She said she heard shots then saw a man with a "shiny object." For some reason she took photos of the victim's body. But she couldn't, or didn't, identify anyone in the photo array. From Inner City Press live tweets: Defense lawyer: You said the individuals was slender and lean and with a pony tail?  Gardener: I don't remember the pony tail.  Defense lawyer: You didn't see him shoot anybody, right, only holding this silver object?  Gardener: Correct     Next witness is a paramedic at NY Presbyterian Hospital ADA: Where were you trained? Witness: SUNY Westchester, as EMT - Paramedic.  ADA: What was the call on July 1, 2023? Paramedic: Gunshot wound. We arrived 6:52 pm. We saw State Park Police providing CPR  Paramedic: He was not breathing. There was not a heart rate. He was a young man, Hispanic. No shocks were given - there was no muscular activity in the heart. Flat line.  ADA: You provided bandages?  Paramedic: Yes. Four gunshot wounds. We went to Mount Sinai   On September 2, before the defendant's mother dramatically took the stand, an officer from PSA 6 called to the park to assist, testified about arresting the defendant's father while he was on the ground and recovering the firearm. On cross the defense harped on his lack of knowledge of what was done with the gun, and why police tape was not put up at the scene.    The defendant's mother, testifying as part of the prosecution's case, said she had been in the park with her ex-husband Anibal Cruz, their son and his friends at a celebretory barbeque when a group of youths appeared. She testified that her son ran up to his father and said, Dad, look, there they are! She said that Anibal then took a gun from his bag and fired a shot. After that, one of the defendant's friends fired two more shots, she said. She did not say with what gun. She said in a subsequent phone call her son told her he was sorry, it had been his fault. The father, Anibal Cruz, had his trial for the same murder rescheduled. Could there be inconsistent verdicts?   Five stories up, Justice Hanshaft spent another day working to pick a jury for the murder of Dafren Canizalez in a migrant shelter on Randall's Island. On Monday he'd told prospective jurors not to visit the scene of the crime, noting that "the subway doesn't go there." But there is a walkway over the Harlem River... On Wednesday in APAR1, a man was charged with misdemeanor assault on his boyfriend. There was a dog, there was biting and a chokehold, and now there is a limited order of protection. And so it goes on Centre Street. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com