Mistrial Called In Case Of Suspect In Year-Old Slaying

Mistrial Called In Case Of Suspect In Year-Old Slaying

By Charles Rogers

A mistrial has been held in the case of a former Canarsie High School student who has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 12-year-old boy last year a block away from the school. According to Orlando Rivera, a spokesperson for District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, the case will be tried early next year, probably sometime in January.

Rickley Gregoire, 17, was charged with assault and gang assault for allegedly taking part in the stabbing death of Anthony Haynes on October 19th, 2000. He was accused of helping Eduardo Hall, also 17, who allegedly held the knife that was plunged into the victim during a gang confrontation. Hall will be tried for murder next month.

The jury had been deliberating for five days following a week-long trial. Apparently they couldn’t come to a unanimous decision because one juror did not believe some witnesses who said Gregoire was at the scene, according to published reports.

Haynes, a student at I.S. 211, had a day off from school because of a teachers meeting and was visiting the high school when he became embroiled in a dispute with the two suspects. When he left the school, the victim was accosted on Rockaway Parkway near Avenue J, allegedly by the two suspects and the stabbing took place. He managed to make his way across the street, but fell to the ground and died on his way to the hospital.

It was alleged at the time that the suspects were members of the Bloods gang but the connection was not officially made.