The case against the Kris Kringle subway pusher was bolstered Monday after investigators tracked down a witness who watched the drunken homeless man throw an elderly stranger onto the subway tracks in Harlem, law-enforcement sources said.
The witness, who told cops that 57-year-old Rudralall Baldeo intentionally pushed the victim, was located while police were searching for people who saw the vicious attack against 72-year-old Shou Kuan Lin in West 145th Street Station on Saturday, sources said.
Prosecutors and detectives initially only had the account of Lin’s wife, who said “push, push, push,” to describe Baldeo’s actions, sources said. She then said she only saw Baldeo’s arms outstretched after her husband fell onto the tracks.
“They thought [Baldeo] was making excuses for what he did,” said a law-enforcement source. “The problem was that they didn’t have a witness at first to support the attempted murder charge. Now they got one. He’s screwed.”
Sources said Baldeo has given conflicting accounts to investigators.
When detectives asked why the victim’s wife saw his arms outstretched, he said he was trying to grab Lin as he was falling—but was unable to.
He then said he bumped into him with his arms instead of his hands—which were outstretched when Lin’s wife saw him.
Baldeo also admitted he guzzled four or five beers that day.
He has been charged with attempted murder and assault raps. Sources said his head full of white hair and full white beard makes him resemble Santa Claus.
Lin is still listed in very critical condition at St. Luke’s Hospital Center. He was saved by good Samaritans who pulled him to safety in the Friday attack.