Grand jury decides no charges in groom stabbing

NEW YORK

Redinel Dervishaj told the grand jury he was acting in self defense when he killed Antonio Lacertosa outside a restaurant last month.

According to Dervishaj's grand jury testimony, his friend is the manager of Espana Restaurant.

They had gone out to eat and were heading back to the restaurant to close up for the night when they saw one of the engagement party members urinating near the front of the restaurant.

An argument ensued, and Dervishaj says he was attacked by at least a half a dozen members of the party.

Dervishaj says he tried to get into his car which was parked in the alley next to the restaurant, but the group caught him.

He said he ran to the back of the alley, and then into the restaurant to grab a knife to defend himself.

His defense attorney says his story is backed up by surveillance video from a nearby store.

According to the defense attorney, the victim actually pushed someone out of the way to run into the restaurant to grab Dervishaj. At one point he was actually thrown over a parked vehicle.

Dervishaj also testified that he had a bottle thrown at him and the group was trying to beat him up.

Dervishaj was being held without bail. There is an immigration hold on him right now, and the defense attorney is hoping that's lifted in the next few days.

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