A gangbanger shot his cousin in the leg, got convicted in a trial on which he skipped out, and then opened fire on the man for testifying against him, authorities said Friday.
The shooter’s lawyer blamed the whole thing on Manhattan prosecutors — saying it never would have happened if they had not agreed to let him out on bail.
“The prosecutor in this case agreed to release James Richardson without bail on a serious assault charge for shooting Isaac Coleman in 2011,” said the felon’s lawyer Andrew Freifeld. “Now, if James really shot Isaac again, the prosecutor appears to have no one to blame but himself.”
Assistant District Attorney Samuel David couldn’t locate the victim, and he agreed to Richardson’s release without bail.
He never returned to court, and Richardson was convicted of first-degree assault in absentia thanks in large part to Coleman’s testimony.
Then in a chance meeting on Feb. 12 at 129th Street and St Nicholas Avenue, Richardson spotted his cousin and went berserk.
“Why’d you take the stand? Why’d you take the stand?” he shouted before allegedly firing several shots into Coleman’s car, narrowly missing him.
Richardson was arrested and faces attempted murder, attempted assault and other charges.
Last Wednesday he was sentenced to 12 years for the original shooting.