The bullied teen who stabbed a classmate to death outside their Bronx middle school is staying behind bars despite charges against him being greatly reduced, a judge said Tuesday.
Noel Estevez looked even younger than his 14 years as he was brought into Bronx Family Court a day after a grand jury declined to indict him on second-degree murder charges as an adult, opting for a second-degree manslaughter rap after hearing him testify.
The downgrade moved the case against Noel to Family Court.
The troubled teen turn around and nodded to his mother at one point during the 10-minute proceeding.
She smiled and said, “Bye, baby,” as her son was led out of court.
“We request protective remand based on the fact that there’s a reasonable risk that the defendant would commit juvenile delinquency,” said city attorney Jason Kroll.
And because Noel’s mom was herself recently indicted for selling drugs, she might not be around to care for him, Kroll said.