Metro

Pair of thugs plead not guilty in brutal Greenwich Village beating

A pair of vicious thugs charged with using a baseball bat, tire iron and blackjack to pummel a man within inches of his life in Greenwich Village last month pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court today.

Sherif Rizk, 22, and Hatem Farsakh, 24, Mahmood Habib, 30 — who was arraigned last week — inflicted a skull fracture and possible brain damage, on Kevin McCarron, 24, of Andover, Massachusetts during the violent confrontation on McDougal Street January 13th.

The trio are charged with attempted murder, gang assault and assault for a melee caught on a cellphone and four surveillance cameras.

The group was celebrating Rizk’s graduation from Brooklyn College when the brawl erupted after someone pelted them with racial slurs, according to court papers.

“Everything started when they called us F*** Arabs,” Rizk told cops, according to court papers.

The brutal beatdown left McCarron bloodied in the street as shocked witnesses looked on.

All three suspects have been released on bail ranging from $5,000 to $75,000.

Rizk’s lawyer Spencer Leeds defended his client by touting his academic achievement.

“He’s a graduate of Brooklyn College, has a double major in polisci and psychology and internships up the wazoo. He was on the dean’s list,” he said. “We maintain that he was nothing but a peacemaker.”

But the judge denied the bail increase.

Rizk and Farsakh — who appeared separately before Judge Edward McLaughlin — asked about getting their property back.

Both their cars were confiscated after the alleged incident.

Prosecutors handed also gave the defense five videos — one from a cellphone footage fo the incident and others from surveillance cameras along McDougal Street.

After court Farsakh, arrived with his family, said, “I have no comment. This whole thing is over the top for me.”

His lawyer James Kirshner said he’s a liberal arts student at Kingsboro College and works as a process server.

The trio have their next court appearance April 16th.