Metro

Homeless man who ‘fatally punched retiree’ unfit for trial

A homeless black man who fatally punched a retired train conductor in Union Square in September after yelling that he would “f—k up” the next white person he saw, is mentally unfit for trial, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Jeffrey Babbitt

Justice Juan Merchan ordered that Lashawn Marten, 31, be turned over to the custody of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The violent vagrant will be committed to a psychiatric facility until his condition stabilizes.

“He has a longtime history of mental illness and needs to be in a hospital,” said defense lawyer Michael Croce.

Marten is charged with manslaughter and assault as hate crimes for the vicious Sept. 3 attack on Jeffrey Babbitt.

He allegedly sucker-punched the 62-year-old Brooklyn man shortly after yelling that he would “f—k up” the next white person he saw, according to the criminal complaint.

The brutal outburst came after a group chess players didn’t invite him to join in, according to media reports.