Woman charged in man's death in subway

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NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A 31-year-old New York City woman was charged in the death of an Indian man she allegedly pushed onto subway train tracks, officials said.

Erika Menendez was charged Saturday with second-degree murder as a hate crime in the death of Sunando Sen, an Indian immigrant, whom Menendez allegedly pushed onto train tracks in Queens in front of a train, the New York Daily News reported. The incident happened last week.

"I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims -- ever since 2001 when they put down the Twin Towers, I've been beating them up," Menendez was quoted by police officers as saying.

A witness identified Menendez Saturday afternoon after she was recognized on the street earlier in Brooklyn by a passerby who called 911, CNN reported.

"The defendant is accused of committing what is every subway commuter's worst nightmare -- being suddenly and senselessly pushed into the path of an oncoming train," said District Attorney Richard A. Brown. "The victim was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself. Beyond that, the hateful remarks allegedly made by the defendant and which precipitated the defendant's actions can never be tolerated by a civilized society."