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A 68-year-old anti-Asian hate crime victim described the moment she confronted her attacker this week, three years after he brutally assaulted her in New York City’s Times Square.
Victim Vilma Cali attended the sentencing of 41-year-old Brandon Elliott, reading a victim impact statement and confronting her attacker for the first time since the attack. Elliott said that when they passed her on the sidewalk in 2021, she verbally abused Cali, telling her, “You shouldn’t be here,” before flipping her over and hitting her head and body multiple times. I also stepped on it. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon as a hate crime and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
Although the prospect of confronting Elliott was nerve-wracking, Cali told NBC News that she insisted on going to court to find closure and explain how the attack affected her.
“Mr. Elliott, you took away some of my freedom. I was afraid to go out alone, I was afraid to ride the subway, I was afraid to be around people,” Kari said. said as he reflected on his statement in court. “I really emphasized the fear that he instilled in my heart and the realization that even though I’ve lived here in America for many years, I don’t belong here or am perceived like I don’t belong here.” I think that I want to do it.”
Elliott’s attorney, Jamie Niskanen Singer, said in a statement shared with NBC News that his client “expressed remorse” for what Cali went through.
“Mr. Elliott has long suffered from a serious and well-documented mental health diagnosis, and while that was a factor, it was by no means a blanket excuse. He takes responsibility for his actions. in an attempt to avoid Mr. Cali from having to relive that ordeal in court,” Niskanensinger said in a statement. “While nothing can undo what Ms. Kari has gone through and continues to go through, we both appreciate this sentence and the opportunity to make a deep and eloquent victim impact statement. I hope it helps give her some closure.”
The attack by Elliott, who was on parole after killing his mother in 2002 after serving 17 years in prison, forever changed the lives of Cali and her family. Not only was she diagnosed with a fractured pelvis, a forehead contusion, and bruises all over her body, but she also faced emotional distress from the attack and the subsequent onslaught of media attention.
Ms Cali said Elliott spoke near the end of his sentence and apologized for his actions.
“I was very surprised when he spoke in court and said he was sorry for what he had done to me,” she said. “I don’t know if some of the words I said to him were what I meant when I said to him, ‘Elliot, I’ve prayed for you.’ My faith has taught me the power of compassion and love, and I pray that you will be truly rehabilitated.” I don’t know if he was moved by those words or if my three years of imprisonment after the incident had an effect. It made him reflect on what he had done to me and he was truly sorry. ”
Kari said she was initially nervous about seeing Elliott again, but those feelings quickly dissipated because she had spent years worrying about her safety when alone in public.
“I would say I wasn’t really afraid of him anymore,” Cali said. “I just looked at him and felt sorry for him.”
Elliott’s daughter, Elizabeth Cali, who cared for him while he recovered, said the family has mixed feelings about the sentence but hopes Elliott will receive mental health treatment while in prison. .
“What we wanted from the court was that this person was in the system, came out of it, and in less than two years it happened again. Clearly the system somehow We’ve let him down. And he hasn’t received the proper means to deal with his mental health issues either. So we’re hopeful that this time he’ll have access to that,” Elizabeth Cali said.
For a while, Kari was reluctant to talk about the attack due to embarrassment. Experts say many Asian American victims struggle with this feeling, which prevents them from opening up about their experiences. But today, Kari said she feels different.
“I don’t carry shame anymore. I’ve grown beyond it. What I feel now is that I want to be an advocate,” Kari said. “I’m grateful to have survived. That I’m a survivor. And I’m thinking, maybe it’s time to use my voice.”
This article originally appeared on NBCNews.com
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