July 18, 2006

Indictment Handed Up in Glen Cove Attack

Grand Jury indicts El-Waraky for assault, DWI after last month’s attack on a crowd outside bar

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Grand Jury has returned an indictment of Sayed Khaled El-Waraky, 24, an Eqyptian-national attending college in Washington D.C., on four counts of Assault in the First Degree (including two counts citing a “depraved indifference to human life”), a Class B felony; two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony; two counts of Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony; and Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor. 

“This was a truly horrific assault and I look forward to holding this individual accountable for his actions,” said District Attorney Rice.  “We indicted this case immediately and are confident in our ability to hold Mr. El-Waraky responsible.”   

The charges stem from an incident in the early morning hours of June 18.  Mr. El-Waraky, after being asked to leave the Soundview Café, located at the Glen Cove Golf Club, drove away in his 2005 Jaguar.  Moments later, the defendant returned to the parking lot and intentionally drove the car into a group that had gathered outside of the establishment.  The car struck and injured four individuals: Sean Basdavanos, 23, of Glen Cove; Matthew Granger, 23, of Watermill, New York; Matthew Hurwitz, 22; and Salvatore Martinez, 23, of Glen Cove.

ADA Robert Hayden of the District Attorney’s Major Offense Bureau is handling the case.  Mr. El-Waraky is being represented by John Lewis, Esq., of Farmingdale, New York.  The defendant’s date for arraignment on the indictment has yet to be set.

Mr. El-Waraky faces a maximum of 25 years in prison if found guilty on all charges.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.