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10/16/2009 11:59 AM

Residents Of Monserrate's District Say Senator Should Be Punished

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Word of a verdict in State Senator Hiram Monserrate’s assault trial traveled quickly through his Queens district. NY1’s Ruschell Boone filed the following report on voters’ reactions.

“Anyone who slashes a woman should go to jail,” said a Corona resident.

State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who represents Corona, Queens, was convicted Thursday of misdemeanor assault for dragging his girlfriend through a hallway after a glass he was carrying broke and cut her face.

“I'm glad to hear that [he was convicted],because when it comes to domestic violence, it's not really a good thing for somebody to get free like that,” said another local resident. “So I think it's fair what they did. He has to pay.

The court's finding that Monserrate did not deliberately slash his girlfriend did not sit well with some in the court of public opinion. Some Queens residents said what they saw on the apartment building's surveillance tape convinced them he should have been convicted of all the charges against him.

“On the video, it seems like he's actually dragging this woman out of the apartment,” said a Queens resident. “So I think he's guilty.”

Others say now that the court has decided, it's time to move on.

“That's enough. Since she doesn't want to press charges or anything and they convicted him. Yes that's enough. What more could you do,” said another.

“It's between him and his girl. Nobody knows except them and God what happened,” said a third.

And while some people were buzzing about the verdict, others said they were left wondering how much time, if any, the senator will actually spend in jail. He faces up to a year in prison, but time behind bars is not mandatory.