Oceanside brawl victim Aaron Singh testifiesTyler Flach 'took a swing at me' while holding an object
Witness Aaron Singh exits the courtroom Tuesday at the murder trail of Tyler Flach. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
The other victim of an attack that turned deadly for Oceanside High School senior Khaseen Morris testified Tuesday about his recollection of the afterschool brawl, including his own encounter with the defendant who stands accused of murdering Morris after stabbing him in the chest.
Aaron Singh rolled up a sleeve and stood before a jury box in Nassau County Court to display scarring on his left arm from the fight after taking the witness stand in the trial of Tyler Flach.
The 20-year-old said he has lost some feeling since two titanium plates were implanted to repair the broken arm he suffered in the encounter on Sept. 16, 2019.
Singh recalled that he went to the Oceanside strip mall with Morris, 16, and other friends he knew from Freeport after Morris told him people wanted to fight him because he had walked a girl home.
Trial testimony has showed the fight that afternoon was prearranged, with Morris expecting a confrontation with the girl’s jealous ex-boyfriend.
Testimony also has showed Flach, 21, arrived with several friends from Long Beach before a fight ensued between his group and Morris and his friends from Freeport — where Morris previously went to school.
More students from Oceanside High School were watching from nearby after gathering near a pizza shop in the Brower Avenue strip mall that is a popular student hangout.
Singh recalled Tuesday seeing Flach running at him very fast with something in his hand just before the fight began, when he said Flach took a swing at him while holding that object.
“Instinctively I moved out of the way,” said Singh, adding that he swung back at Flach but didn’t remember if he made contact.
Flach, of Lido Beach, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree gang assault and misdemeanor assault and weapon charges.
His defense team appears focused on making a case for second-degree manslaughter, which carries a top penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison. Second-degree murder has a maximum of 25 years to life behind bars.
Defense attorney Edward Sapone previously told jurors Flach was “reckless” and not acting with intent when one punch went “awry” — piercing Morris’ heart while inflicting a single stab wound — as Flach held a knife while punching.
Prosecutor Daryl Levy previously told jurors Flach stabbed Morris three times, a departure from a previous account from authorities that Morris suffered a single stab wound to his chest.
The prosecution is trying to prove Flach, then 18, acted with intent when he fatally stabbed Morris.
Singh said Tuesday he lost sight of Flach during the fight when a tall friend of Flach’s stepped in front of him before that person picked him up and slammed him down on his arm.
Singh said others joined in on the attack on him and he identified himself in a video from the scene that showed three people assaulting him. He said he got body slammed twice.
“They picked me up again as soon as I stood up and slammed me onto my left arm,” Singh testified.
He said he lost consciousness for a while and woke up on the ground before a girl put a book bag under his head.
During a cross examination, Singh confirmed he’d seen an object in Flach’s hand when Flach swung at him.
Testimony on Tuesday from four of Morris’ other friends, two of whom were part of the fight, also related to what witnesses observed when it came to Flach and the knife.
Michael Quezada, 20, said during a cross examination that he didn’t see the stabbing.
But Quezada, who was part of the fight, said he saw Flach holding the knife while Flach was throwing punches — including one to Morris’ head.
Fight witness Corey Dunbar, 19, testified that he saw Flach had a knife “as soon as the jab-like motion was released.”
He said he saw Flach jab at Morris once and described the knife as black and with a partially curved blade.
On cross examination, Dunbar acknowledged he never told detectives anything about a jab-like motion. But he told prosecutor Ania Pulaski during more questioning that he'd told police he saw a person later identified as Flach stab Morris.
Fight witness Shjon Tankiewicz, 20, said he saw Flach make two stabbing motions with what looked like a pocket knife. He said the blade went into Morris “near the heart, like here,” while gesturing to his chest.
During a cross examination, Tankiewicz said Flach had the knife in his hands when he punched Morris other times — but didn’t stab him.
Prince Mitchell, 20, a fight participant, said he saw an object in Flach’s hand when Flach took a swing at him that he later realized looked like a knife.
He said Flach ran up to Morris' group and tried to incite the fight, saying “You (expletive) want static?”
The trial continues in Mineola on Wednesday.
The other victim of an attack that turned deadly for Oceanside High School senior Khaseen Morris testified Tuesday about his recollection of the afterschool brawl, including his own encounter with the defendant who stands accused of murdering Morris after stabbing him in the chest.
Aaron Singh rolled up a sleeve and stood before a jury box in Nassau County Court to display scarring on his left arm from the fight after taking the witness stand in the trial of Tyler Flach.
The 20-year-old said he has lost some feeling since two titanium plates were implanted to repair the broken arm he suffered in the encounter on Sept. 16, 2019.
Khaseen Morris was fatally stabbed in the parking lot of a strip mall in Oceanside on Sept. 16, 2019. Credit: Keyanna Morris
Singh recalled that he went to the Oceanside strip mall with Morris, 16, and other friends he knew from Freeport after Morris told him people wanted to fight him because he had walked a girl home.
Trial testimony has showed the fight that afternoon was prearranged, with Morris expecting a confrontation with the girl’s jealous ex-boyfriend.
Testimony also has showed Flach, 21, arrived with several friends from Long Beach before a fight ensued between his group and Morris and his friends from Freeport — where Morris previously went to school.
More students from Oceanside High School were watching from nearby after gathering near a pizza shop in the Brower Avenue strip mall that is a popular student hangout.
Singh recalled Tuesday seeing Flach running at him very fast with something in his hand just before the fight began, when he said Flach took a swing at him while holding that object.
“Instinctively I moved out of the way,” said Singh, adding that he swung back at Flach but didn’t remember if he made contact.
Flach, of Lido Beach, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree gang assault and misdemeanor assault and weapon charges.
His defense team appears focused on making a case for second-degree manslaughter, which carries a top penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison. Second-degree murder has a maximum of 25 years to life behind bars.
Defense attorney Edward Sapone previously told jurors Flach was “reckless” and not acting with intent when one punch went “awry” — piercing Morris’ heart while inflicting a single stab wound — as Flach held a knife while punching.
Prosecutor Daryl Levy previously told jurors Flach stabbed Morris three times, a departure from a previous account from authorities that Morris suffered a single stab wound to his chest.
The prosecution is trying to prove Flach, then 18, acted with intent when he fatally stabbed Morris.
Singh said Tuesday he lost sight of Flach during the fight when a tall friend of Flach’s stepped in front of him before that person picked him up and slammed him down on his arm.
Singh said others joined in on the attack on him and he identified himself in a video from the scene that showed three people assaulting him. He said he got body slammed twice.
“They picked me up again as soon as I stood up and slammed me onto my left arm,” Singh testified.
He said he lost consciousness for a while and woke up on the ground before a girl put a book bag under his head.
During a cross examination, Singh confirmed he’d seen an object in Flach’s hand when Flach swung at him.
Tyler Flach is escorted from Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola in early October. Credit: John Roca
Testimony on Tuesday from four of Morris’ other friends, two of whom were part of the fight, also related to what witnesses observed when it came to Flach and the knife.
Michael Quezada, 20, said during a cross examination that he didn’t see the stabbing.
But Quezada, who was part of the fight, said he saw Flach holding the knife while Flach was throwing punches — including one to Morris’ head.
Fight witness Corey Dunbar, 19, testified that he saw Flach had a knife “as soon as the jab-like motion was released.”
He said he saw Flach jab at Morris once and described the knife as black and with a partially curved blade.
On cross examination, Dunbar acknowledged he never told detectives anything about a jab-like motion. But he told prosecutor Ania Pulaski during more questioning that he'd told police he saw a person later identified as Flach stab Morris.
Fight witness Shjon Tankiewicz, 20, said he saw Flach make two stabbing motions with what looked like a pocket knife. He said the blade went into Morris “near the heart, like here,” while gesturing to his chest.
During a cross examination, Tankiewicz said Flach had the knife in his hands when he punched Morris other times — but didn’t stab him.
Prince Mitchell, 20, a fight participant, said he saw an object in Flach’s hand when Flach took a swing at him that he later realized looked like a knife.
He said Flach ran up to Morris' group and tried to incite the fight, saying “You (expletive) want static?”
The trial continues in Mineola on Wednesday.
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New LIRR locomotives coming ... Wisconsin school shooting ... William Floyd testing metal detectors ... Food at Roosevelt Field Mall
