Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990 TAG: 9003142534
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The detective, George Klingberg, testified, "He said he grabbed the boy and took him by the arm to a garage."
The suspect described taking off the sneakers and socks of 12-year-old David Aupont and using the socks to tie him to a railing, Klingberg said. He then quoted the suspect as saying:
"I walked over to him. I lit a match; I held it up to his shirt. His shirt caught on fire, and I got scared and ran off."
During the detective's testimony, the sturdily built suspect, whose name was withheld because of his age, sat at a table in front of the judge and showed no emotion.
Many people have sent gifts to the boy and donations to his family.
David suffered third-degree burns over more than half his body. He is in critical condition in the burn unit of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan. Doctors say his chances of surviving are 50-50.
The detective said he had obtained the suspect's admission last Wednesday, the day of the attack. He said the suspect first blamed another boy but then confessed.
At the end of the hearing, which was conducted to determine if there was sufficient cause to hold the juvenile, Judge Joseph Esquirol ordered him held for another hearing on March 22.
The charges include attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and attempted robbery.
Another witness said he was walking to school with David and two other boys about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when they were approached by a youth on a red bicycle.
The witness, who appeared to be about 13 and whose name was withheld, testified in Creole, with an interpreter translating.
He said the two other boys with them ran away as the suspect approached.
"The boy called us," he said, referring to the suspect. "The first time we pretended we didn't hear. Then he came up on a bike, right in front of us, and he asked us if we had any money."
The suspect searched their pockets and their book bags, the witness said. "He told me to go on to school," he continued, "and asked the other boy to go with him."
The other boy, David, did not want to go, the witness said.
He said the suspect, who displayed a knife, told David that if he did not go, "I'll stab you."
The witness said he continued walking down the street and then turned around but could no longer see David and the other youth.
When asked what the youth was wearing at the time, the witness said, "He was wearing a black coat, and the same sneakers he is wearing now." He pointed toward the suspect, who wore bright red sneakers, faded blue jeans and a black jacket.
by CNB