Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker on a homicide charge stemming from an incident in Harlem.

MAURICE PARKS, 40, has been indicted for Murder in the Second Degree for the January 10, 2008 stabbing death of Flonarza Byas. The murder occurred along St. Nicholas Avenue, between 138th and 139th streets, in Harlem. The investigation revealed that PARKS was robbed and assaulted by four young men and called 911 after the robbery ended. While on the telephone with 911, PARKS encountered the victim, who neither participated in the robbery nor tried to intervene in the robbery to assist PARKS. Mr. Byas was on his way home from working two jobs that day when he was immediately attacked by PARKS, who apparently believed the victim was one of the attackers. The victim tried to flee, but PARKS repeatedly stabbed him 15 times in his back, chest, stomach, arms, legs and face, and chased him a full block.

The defendant, who turned himself in on August 28, 2008 at the 26th Precinct, was arraigned today in State Supreme Court. He is in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail and his next court date is October 15, 2008.

Murder in the Second Degree is a class A felony, which is punishable by a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

Assistant District Attorney David O’Keefe presented the case to the grand jury and will be in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jessica Troy.

Defendant Information

MAURICE PARKS, 4/3/1968
580 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, New York  

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