[Photo from 2006 via CBS 2]
In May 2014, 68-year-old Wen Hui Ruan died from the injuries he sustained in a vicious assault on East Sixth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.
In the days that followed, police arrested 20-year-old Jamie Pugh, who was charged with second-degree murder, robbery and assault. His mother claimed at the time that someone slipped him the club drug Molly. As DNAinfo reported, "Pugh didn’t even know about the attack until one of his friends showed him the chilling surveillance footage over the weekend and said the attacker looked like him."
[Photo of Jamie Pugh from May 2014 by Frank Franca]
According to BoweryBoogie today, a jury last week found Pugh guilty of second-degree murder … and he could conceivably receive 25-to-life when sentenced on Oct. 22. DNAinfo has comments from Pugh's attorney here.
Ruan, a retired garment worker who lived on Avenue C and East Seventh Street with his wife, had just dropped off his granddaughters when the attack occurred.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: East Village resident dies from injuries sustained in brutal attack
[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack
[Updated] Family mourns Ruan Wen Hui as police hunt suspect in deadly assault on E. 6th St.
[Updated] Report: Murder suspect's mother says her son was high on Molly at the time of attack
Report: Family of Ruan Wen Hui wants hate crime charges brought against suspect
Good! Hope he gets the maximum!
ReplyDeleteSecond degree? I saw the depraved video of him stomping Mr Ruan in the head, what do you have to do for 1st degree murder?
ReplyDelete?
Good. May Ruan's family gain at least some comfort from the fact that they will never have to pass this guy on the street ever again.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that this happened, but it's sad that such a young kid killed someone and didn't even know it. There should be some way to rehabilitate him instead of jail.
ReplyDeleteThat poor man. I hope this guy goes to jail for the rest of his life not just as payback but for the safety of others.
ReplyDeleteBetcha if Pugh were a drunken frat bro, that team of high-priced lawyers that Daddy hired would've gotten him off on probation.
ReplyDelete#Asianlivesmatter. Thank you NYPD.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if letters from the community would ensure the maximum . If so we should do so, for the Ruan family, for those granddaughters.
ReplyDelete@ 7:30 You've been trolled.
ReplyDeleteIt's just some douche seeing if they can start a row.
They couldn't even come up with a better defense than he was on molly. Everyone knows Molly has the exact opposite effect. Thank god the jury didn't fall for it. I hope this waste-of-life gets the maximum and the Ruan family gets some peace.
ReplyDeleteMolly always makes me want to kill people, rolleyes.
ReplyDeleteStupidest defense ever.
I was almost picked for this jury. After 2 days of questions I was let go I believe by the defense. This was a very intense trial and I'm confused as why he was not convicted of 1st degree?? I watched the video after I was let go and there's no way he should have been convicted of less!
ReplyDelete@nygrump - NY law is weird, but 1st degree murder is only if the victim is one of aa specific class of people.I don't remember the list, but it included things such as policemen. The penalties for 1st and 2nd degree murder are the same. I'm too lazy to look up the statute now but it should be easy enough to find. This is a NY state peculiarity.
ReplyDeleteThank you, NYPD and Ninth Precint.
ReplyDeletenygrump said...
ReplyDeleteSecond degree? I saw the depraved video of him stomping Mr Ruan in the head, what do you have to do for 1st degree murder?
In New York City, you have to kill a cop.
1st degree murder is when you plan the killing first. It's not about the victim.
ReplyDelete@7:04 am: please look at the law it IS about the victim.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:03, If you knew what you were talking about, you'd have written it.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere a bridge is missing its troll.
I hope this criminal gets the maximum sentence. Good riddance.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we all feel sorry for the family, but this is exactly the kind of thing that people glamorize when they talk about the old days, and low rents. You can't have it both ways.
ReplyDeleteIs this the "gritty ol' East Village" that people talk so fondly of? No, thanks - I'll keep my higher rents and safer streets.
ReplyDelete