A woman who was almost killed after being shoved toward a moving New York City subway train shared a devastating statement in court this week as the man accused of attacking her looked on.
Prosecutors say Kamal Semrade got on the same train as Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy on May 21, 2023. Both later got off at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station, where the assault is alleged to have happened shortly afterward.
A press release from Manhattan District Attorney’s Office states: “At approximately 6:05am, Semrade walked right behind the woman, who was adjacent to the train, then to her left side. He used both his hands to shove the woman by the head and neck, with all his force, into the moving subway car, which was accelerating to leave the station.”
Authorities said Ozsoy’s head and face struck the departing train before she landed back on the platform, suffering severe injuries including a fractured spine.
The 35-year-old was left paralyzed from the shoulders down and now relies on a wheelchair.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said: “Kamal Semarde violently pushed a woman into a moving train, uprooting her life and leaving her with catastrophic, permanent injuries, including paralysis.
“After the attack, Semrade callously fled, leaving the victim helpless on the platform.”
In March, a New York jury convicted Semrade of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. On Wednesday (May 6), he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Before sentencing was issued, Ozsoy addressed the court and spoke directly about the impact the attack has had on her life.
“There hasn’t been a single moment when I have been able to leave this experience behind, or truly find peace,” she said during the sentence hearing, according to CBS New York.
“As a result of this incident, I am no longer able to continue my profession, and I am facing serious financial difficulties.”
She continued: “Your honor, there are no words that can fully describe the pain and struggle that I have endured over the past three years,” before saying she’s undergone six surgeries since the horrid attack.
Ozsoy added: “I am in this condition because of his evil action. I have a long life ahead of me, yet I have to live with the circumstances.
“Every day I ask myself whether justice will be served, or [if] I will be left alone with this injustice.”
According to CBS News, Semrade had no prior convictions before the incident and reportedly showed no visible emotion as his sentence was handed down.