A motorist from Queens received a decade-long prison sentence on Wednesday, nearly two years following a violent encounter revealing apparent bias and escalating into a fatal road-rage incident. The accused, Gilbert Augustin, was initially faced with both manslaughter and assault charged as hate crimes. This arose from the brutal incident in October 2023, which resulted in the death of Jasmer Singh, a 66-year-old Sikh man. The altercation on the Van Wyck Expressway featured numerous inflammatory remarks from Augustin, who repeatedly referred to Singh derogatorily as ‘turban man’.
Augustin managed to evade a potential lengthier sentence by pleading guilty to a second-degree assault as a hate crime, as opposed to risking a judgment from a Queens jury on the more serious manslaughter charge. However, the initial reluctance by law enforcement to label the incident as a hate crime presented a challenging dimension to the case.
A detailed grand jury investigation unearthed further specifics about the violent conflict that weren’t initially available to investigating detectives, according to authorities. This additional evidence shed new light on the true nature of the crime, prompting prosecutors to reconsider their stance on the hate crime charges.
The robust response from the Sikh community, coupled with the outcry on social media insisting on enforcing hate crime charges, played a significant role in inducing prosecutors to re-evaluate the case. These elements coalesced in exerting pressure on prosecutors to reassess their initial charges against Augustin.
A spokesperson stated that this verdict hopefully offers some semblance of justice for the victim’s family and friends. They added that this case underlines a clear message about their commitment to keep Queens, renowned as one of the world’s most diverse regions, free from any form of hate.
The tragic incident dates back to Oct. 19, when an unfortunate collision between Augustin’s Mustang and Singh’s Toyota on the Van Wyck Expressway near Hillside Ave. in Kew Gardens precipitated Augustin’s rage. Following the accident, both drivers pulled to the side of the road, with Augustin subsequently approaching Singh, who was still inside his car alongside his wife.
According to prosecutors, a witness saw Augustin aggressively insisting on keeping the police away from the situation. They reported that Augustin repeatedly denigrated Singh as ‘turban man’ and conveyed his intention not to let him return home, and prevented him from contacting the authorities.
It was reported that Augustin snatched Singh’s cell phone from his vehicle in the midst of the heated exchange. In response, Singh exited his Toyota to retrieve his phone and was eventually successful in regaining possession of it.
As Singh was returning to his car, an enraged Augustin assaulted him, striking him thrice in the head and face area. This caused Singh’s turban to be dislodged and him to violently fall backward onto the tarmac.
The impact of Singh’s head against the pavement inflicted a severe brain injury. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day.
On the day following the attack, law enforcement found Augustin in his damaged Mustang on 111th Ave. in Jamaica. Authorities found that his license had been suspended and lacked proof of valid insurance, leading to his arrest.
In court, Augustin threw light on his perspective, denying that prejudice played a part in his actions. He expressed gratitude for the support from his family and stated, ‘I am not a hateful person.’
In addition to his prison sentence, Augustin received a further five years of post-release supervision, adding to the punitive measures taken in response to his crimes.