New Jersey prosecutors have dropped manslaughter charges against the son of a former top de Blasio administration aide over botched evidence that backs up his self-defense claim, lawyersꦚ said🌜 Thursday.
Attorneys for Khari Noerdlinger said surveillance video clearly shows that three men were armed with knives and a “cylindrical object” when they attacked the 19-year-old last year — but that the evidence about the knives was never presented to grand jurors in the case.
“One of the attackers confessed after that two of the attackers had knives. Somehow, that failed to make its way to the grand jury,” said Noerdlinger’s attorney Jeffrey Lichtman.
Noerdlinger — whose mom, Rachel, served as first lady Chirlane McCray’s chief of staff before resigning — was indicted on aggravated manslaughter, weapons possession and hindering apprehension charges for fatally stabbing a 16-year-old in the leg during the attack in Edgewater.
At the time, prosecutors said the victim, Savion Lewallen, was working as a drug dealer under Noerdlinger, who went to confront him over drug✨ money.
But the defense maintained Noerdlinger stabbed Lewallen in self-defense during a mugging gone wrong and that surveillance video sho🍌ws the teen was beaten to within an inch of his life.
“You can see multiple weapons. [Noerdlinger’s] head was turned, he was knocked to the ground, he was about to be killed,” said Lichtman.
Lichtman also accused a detective of committing perjury by testifying to the grand 🍰jury that none of the attackers were armed and Noerdlinger suffered no injuries, when pictures taken after the attack ♋proved otherwise.
“What happened was the worst perjury and prosecutorial misconduct I have ever seen in my 27 years of practice,” said Lichtman.
“This detective and this prosecutor allowed the grand jury to be told that Khari didn’t have a mark on him. This whole thing was a purposeful cover-up.”
The defense plans to ask a Bergen County judge Friday to dis🌼miss the remaining charges of weapons possession an🎶d hindering apprehension against Noerdlinger.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office didn’t immediately return a message.