Mark Carson’s Killer Pleads Not Guilty

Even though he repeatedly boasted about the crime at the time of his arrest, today Elliot Morales (left) pleaded not guilty to the hate crime murder of Mark Carson, who was shot in the face on a West Village street last month.

“He thought he was tough, and I shot him. It’s the last thing he’ll remember,” Elliot Morales, 33, told cops according to court documents released at his arraignment Tuesday. “Guy thought he was tough in front of his bitch so I shot him. Diagnosis is dead, doctor.” The disturbed suspect shook his head as the charges of second degree murder as a hate crime, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon were read out in Manhattan criminal court. He pleaded not guilty. “This young man’s tragic death serves as a reminder of the discrimination that many of our family members, coworkers and friends still face,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said.

The above-linked report adds that no friends or family appeared in court to support Morales, who was remanded to Rikers Island.  After his May 23rd grand jury indictment, the lawyer for Morales hinted at an insanity defense, adding the claim that Morales had been sexually abused by a “male authority figure” when he was a child.  The Daily News played into that today by reporting that Morales’ “insanity was evident during his interrogation” because he threatened to murder “the first bitch cop I see” if his handcuffs were to be removed.