NEW YORK (AP) - A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for a woman accused of shoving a man to his death in front of a subway train because she believed he was Muslim.
Erika Menendez was charged Saturday night with murder as a hate crime after she told police she spontaneously pushed 46-year-old Sunando Sen off a subway platform Thursday night. Sen, a native of India, had lived in Queens for decades, where he was a graphic designer and copy shop owner.
The 31-year-old Menendez laughed so hard during her arraignment that that Judge Gia Morris told her lawyer he'd have to stop his client from laughing.
She was held without bail and ordered to have a mental health exam. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 14.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
