Court date in Figoski slaying today

Prosecutors and attorneys for the five men accused of murdering NYPD officer Peter Figoski during a botched robbery in Brooklyn -- as well as hundreds of police officers -- are scheduled to be in court Friday to learn if a grand jury has indicted the suspects.

A spokesman for the Brooklyn district attorney's office said Thursday it was unclear if the five defendants, including accused cop killer Lamont Pride, would be produced in court. But Al O'Leary, a spokesman for the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said Pride and his co-defendants are expected to be brought from jail to the Schermerhorn Street courthouse.

Jerry Schmetterer, a spokesman for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, couldn't say whether the grand jury had voted on murder and related charges in the killing of Figoski, 47, of West Babylon, early Monday morning.

Friday is the normal deadline for prosecutors to say if an indictment had been voted, but that can be extended by the court or consent of the defense, officials explained.

Pride is in custody on charges of first- and second-degree murder, as well as aggravated murder. Suspects Nelson Morales, Ariel Tejada, Kevin Santos and Michael Velez also face charges of second-degree murder.

Meanwhile, collections for a college fund set up for Figoski's four daughters have reached $213,000, said a spokesman for the NYPD.

Long Island Rail Road officials said that beginning Friday, commuters on the Babylon branch will hear announcements telling them to expect heavier than usual passenger traffic Monday for Figoski's funeral Mass at nearby St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. Thousands of officers will be traveling to the church for the funeral, said law enforcement officials.