Suspect in deadly subway push appears in court, speaks exclusively from Rikers Island
RIKERS ISLAND (WABC) -- The suspect accused of pushing a man to his death in front of a Bronx subway train faced a judge Monday, one day after speaking exclusively to Eyewitness News from behind bars at Rikers Island.
Kevin Darden has been indicted by a grand jury on the charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He did not speak during the hearing.
He is due back in court on January 12.
On Sunday, he spoke exclusively with Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson. Her report follows.
As I boarded the bus to Rikers, I was fully aware Kevin Darden could refuse to see me. After passing through three security checkpoints, the 34-year-old agreed to talk. No cameras were allowed inside the facility.
Darden is being held on murder charges for allegedly pushing Wai Kuen Kwok in front of a D train, killing the father of two.
Police say Darden is seen in surveillance video calmly walking not far from the bloody subway scene in the Bronx, moments after the attack. It is one of the first things I asked him about as he sat roughly two feet across from me - no partition; no cuffs Darden told me that he never saw that video.
On November 16th, Kwok and his wife were standing on the platform, when Darden allegedly shoved Kwok onto the tracks.
"I would never do anything like that," Darden said without emotion. "I don't remember anything about Sunday. I didn't do anything."
Darden was arrested near his mother's home in the Bronx. Darden told me that his mother has not been to see him at Rikers, and neither has his brother.
In 2011, Darden allegedly tried to burn his home down. He has also been arrested dozens of times, and has been convicted of robbery and assault. Just recently, he was nabbed for pickpocketing in New York City.
Darden is being looked at as a possibly suspect in yet another Subway incident, where a man was pushed on a platform.
"I don't know what to do or say," he said. "I've never been in this type of situation before."
With that, Darden called a guard over to end the interview.
I asked if he was hopeful he would be cleared of these charges, to which he responded, "I don't have any hope anymore."
When I asked why, he didn't answer and left the room.
Right now, Darden is on mental observation, which means he is in a single cell, being watched around the clock, and he has access to a psychiatrist. Darden says he is spending his time sleeping, is not on medication and has not watched TV.
