A Brooklyn judge denied bail yesterday for a 20-year-old repeat offender accused in the senseless killing of an MTA bus driver – referring sarcastically to his “illustrious” criminal resume.
The accused man, Horace Moore, allegedly plunged a knife into the chest of driver Edwin Thomas after the operator – who’d let him ride without paying – refused to give him a transfer.
“Your client is 20 years old,” Judge Stephanie Zaro told defense lawyer Ita Parnass, who had requested bail. “He began his illustrious career at 15 years old. I’m remanding him.”
Parnass told the judge her client had a 2-year old daughter and another baby on the way – an argument that failed to sway the judge, but did outrage the victim’s brother.
“They’re talking about him having kids coming,” said Didelot Thomas, 41. “But my brother had kids also, and I don’t have a brother now. My niece and nephew, they don’t have a father now.
“This guy, here, my taxes pay for him to be fed three times a day, play ball, watch cable TV. I’m paying for all of these things.”
Meanwhile, the state Department of Parole defended its decision not to toss Moore back in jail when he was arrested in July for carrying an illegal knife.
“His case was not deemed to be a strong one,” said spokeswoman Heather Groll, noting that the DA and judge on the knife case agreed to a conditional dismissal.
“Additionally, at the time of the incident, Mr. Moore was in compliance with the conditions of his parole.”