HIKIND PRAISES DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEN THOMPSON, POLICE FOR SWIFT ARREST IN STARK MURDER CASE; SCOLDS SENSATIONALISTS

BOTCHED ROBBERY RESULTED IN STARK’S MURDER

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) had the highest praise for Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson and the New York City Police Department following the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Menachem Stark, but the Assemblyman was fiercely critical of sensationalists for their misleading suppositions surrounding the tragedy.

“I would like to be the first to express my gratitude to Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson and the NYPD for their persistence in pursuing Menachem Stark’s murder suspects,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “By removing those responsible for this heinous crime, the DA and the police are helping everyone in our community sleep a little better. We hope all those responsible will be brought to immediate justice.

“As we are now learning, Menachem’s tragic murder seems to have resulted from a botched robbery. Some people knew that he was a man who carried significant amounts of cash. The tragedy of his death was bad enough, but his family needlessly endured an endless barrage of innuendos as Menachem’s name was dragged through the mud. It wasn’t enough that this young father and husband lost his life, sensationalists also attacked his character, which was irresponsible and insensitive and caused unnecessary suffering to his bereaved family.

“And now, as we see, none of what appeared had any bearing on the cause of Menachem’s murder. The additional pain caused to his parents, wife and children, as well as our community, by people jumping to conclusions could have been avoided. My heart goes out to the Stark family, who has endured more than most of us can imagine. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with them.”

Stark, 39, was forced into a van outside of his Williamsburg office late on the evening of Jan. 2, 2014. His partially burned body was found the next day in Great Neck, NY. Assemblyman Hikind has visited with the family and has been kept abreast of developments in the investigation and the arrest as they occurred.

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