Alleged Hate Crime Killer Arraigned in Manhattan

By Alyson Kaufman

The alleged assailant of a Brooklyn bachelor who died in what authorities are calling a hate crime, was arraigned Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court where the defendant appeared defiant, trying to talk over the judge.

The remarks were inaudible and the jurist quickly silenced the handcuffed defendant, Lashawn Marten, 40.

The assault charges will likely be upgraded due to the later death of the victim,  Jeffrey Babbitt, 62,  who  was singled out because he was white, authorities said.

Marten was scheduled to appear in front of a grand jury on September 24^th.

The defendant, 40-year-old Lashawn Marten, stood in front of the judge wearing the same patched, collared shirt and cargo shorts he wore on the day of his arrest.

Witnesses to the attack near Union Square on Wednesday say Marten, who is black, went off on a racial tangent saying “I’m going to punch the first white man I see.” Moments later, Marten struck 62-year-old Jeffrey Babbitt, who was simply minding his own business as he made his bi-weekly commute from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn to his favorite comic book store in Union Square.The victim fell, cracking his skull on the concrete.

Marten was also accused of attacking two men who tried to help Babbitt, who was the sole care provider for his 92-year-old mother.  The Sheepshead Bay resident was declared brain dead at Bellevue Hospital Center and died on Monday morning.