How does anyone explain this???

[Fitswimmer]

Mugged, beaten at 101
Evil thug pummels senior on video in Queens robbery

BY JOHN LAUINGER, ALISON GENDAR and MICHAEL WHITE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Posted Saturday, March 10th 2007, 4:00 AM


Cameras capture mugger (r.) attacking Rose Morat

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Rose Morat
He glances at a security camera, pulls a mask over his face and then slugs the 101-year-old woman in the head as she steps out of her Queens apartment with the help of a geriatric walker.

The brutal punch is followed by another quick blow that knocks a woolen hat off Rose Morat's head.

She somehow stays on her feet until the cowardly attacker grabs her neck and punches her again and again and throws her to the ground.

The thug flees only after searching Morat's pockets and swiping $33 from her purse.

"I'm quite sure that if had happened when I was younger, I would have been after him," Morat told the Daily News yesterday from her Jamaica Estates home.

"I would have killed him," she fumed, a dark bruise visible on her face. "I'm a very strong woman. I've been that way my whole life."

The shocking beating, which left Morat with a broken cheekbone, was recorded on a surveillance tape.

The NYPD released the footage yesterday in hopes of catching the mugger, who beat another elderly woman the same day, setting a new low for attacking the helpless.

Morat, a retired communications worker, who spent four days recovering at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, said the man approached her Sunday and offered to help her out of her home, using a pink bike to prop open her door.

"I see this man sitting on one of the couches that we have in the foyer," she recalled. "He came toward me smiling and he said, 'Let me help you down the stairs.'

"I said, 'That's not necessary,' and he said, 'Let me help you out the door then.'"

"I thought, 'Oh, he's going to open the door wide so I can get out with my walker, and with that I got hit," she said. "The blood was flowing out of my nose."

She said she doesn't remember anything after the initial blow.

About 30 minutes later, the same man attacked 85-year-old Elizee Solange as she entered her Hillside home, police said.

Again, the man offered to help his elderly victim, police said.

When the Haitian immigrant, a former schoolteacher, declined, the man pounced.

"He pushed me and began to beat me in my face," she said. "He hit me in my face and my head and my mouth, and I had lots of blood coming out of my mouth.

"God saved my life. Oh, my God. People are bad. I was scared. I don't know if he rape me or kill me.

"I am afraid to go out, but [the police] say they have people looking for him."

The suspect stole $32 from Solange, police said.

"There has to be a special rung in hell for him," a police source said.

Investigators urged anyone with information to call (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

agendar@nydailynews.com

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[CEDmom]

I saw this on the news last night and it broke my heart . I have to say the 101 yo woman was amazingly spry and feisty. I think if she had a cane rather than a walker that mugger would have gotten a good beatdown.

I wish the Police would clean up the tape a little so his face could be seen better. I'm sure they'll catch him since it's obvious he's not too bright.

 

[ducklite]

How utterly low. Preying on the elderly is as bad as preying on children in my book.

I hope they catch him and throw his butt in a cell with someone who will have a little fun with it. I'm just saying.

Anne

 

[cassie]

This attack on an ederly person is so scary. Thank God the woman is alright. The elderly are unfortunetly targets for these cowardly crimes. We recently have had daytime assaults on the elderly in my town, and the culperts have been apprehended. Their reason for the assaults....they needed money for their drugs.

 

[mickeyfan2]

So sad. I am glad the two women are going to recover.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I just can't figure out what in society creates a human being that would do this? The religious folks would say that we've lost our moral center and while I support a strict separation of church and state-they may have a point.
In our concern for not promoting a particular religion, have we neglected to promote morality at all?

 

[tiggr33]

I saw on the news this afternoon (WABC noon news), that the "apparent" mugger checked himself into a NY psych unit, and cannot be questioned or arrested until his release.

I was physically sick to my stomach when I saw the video. I'd love to be the one to dispense justice to him. I hate crimes against the elderly.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

There are some people that just suck lately. I don't know why, but they do.

 

[Chicago526]

Yeah, I've been following the story for a few days. It makes me My grandmother died after an attack from a purse snatcher. They never caught him, either. This was back in the 70's so it's nothing new, unfortunatly.

 

[tiggr33]

Yeah, I've been following the story for a few days. It makes me My grandmother died after an attack from a purse snatcher. They never caught him, either. This was back in the 70's so it's nothing new, unfortunatly.

My heartfelt condolences to you. I'm sure the anger and hurt was brought back. I can't imagine how my reaction would have been if it was my Grandma, I think I would have turned into a vigilante.

 

[JoyG]

I just can't figure out what in society creates a human being that would do this? The religious folks would say that we've lost our moral center and while I support a strict separation of church and state-they may have a point.
In our concern for not promoting a particular religion, have we neglected to promote morality at all?

Yup. There are some people out there that are just morally bankrupt.

 

[Chicago526]

My heartfelt condolences to you. I'm sure the anger and hurt was brought back. I can't imagine how my reaction would have been if it was my Grandma, I think I would have turned into a vigilante.

Thank you. This happend before I was born, so while I never really morned, I've always been angry that I never got to know her. This "person" robbed me of ever knowing my grandmother, and tore a hole in my father's family that never really healed.

 

[cardaway]

So if we focused more on religion there would be fewer crimes like this?

I can't believe I just read that.

It's either an desperate need for money or the person is just wacko. No need to try and turn this into a excuse to push more religion. Unless of course we should start listing crimes by religious leaders.

 

[JoyG]

So if we focused more on religion there would be fewer crimes like this?

I can't believe I just read that.

It's either an desperate need for money or the person is just wacko. No need to try and turn this into a excuse to push more religion. Unless of course we should start listing crimes by reliigous leaders.

I didn't think Fitswimmer meant that we should focus on religion...but promote morality. I think something along the lines of "values education." I think about that alot as a teacher. I teach in public school, so obviously I wouldn't be teaching religion. But I often think I need to teach some sort of values education to my kids because they are soooo lacking in that area...

Things like honesty, integrity, respecting the property of others, working to your best ability...

Unfortunately, since those topics are not mandated by the state they get pushed aside every year due to lack of time. But I'm always wishing I had time to focus on them more.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I didn't think Fitswimmer meant that we should focus on religion...but promote morality. I think something along the lines of "values education." I think about that alot as a teacher. I teach in public school, so obviously I wouldn't be teaching religion. But I often think I need to teach some sort of values education to my kids because they are soooo lacking in that area...

Things like honesty, integrity, respecting the property of others, working to your best ability...

Unfortunately, since those topics are not mandated by the state they get pushed aside every year due to lack of time. But I'm always wishing I had time to focus on them more.

A fellow teacher and I wrote a grant for character education when our district cut funding for it. There are quite a few resources out there.

There are plenty of people with a healthy morale compass that do not practice any sort of religion. Sometimes it's just so discouraging that we start looking for answers and I could see where some would think that more religion wouldn't hurt.

 

[JoyG]

I could see where some would think that more religion wouldn't hurt.

Actually, as a christian, I do think that "more religion wouldn't hurt"

But, that's not how I read Fitswimmer's question. My first instinct was to think there are people out there with no moral compass at all. I see so many students in my class who's parents have totally dropped the ball in instilling any type of values system at all, religious or secular. Third graders that think nothing of stealing, lying, cheating...it gets more surprising every year.

 

[cardaway]

There are plenty of people with a healthy morale compass that do not practice any sort of religion. Sometimes it's just so discouraging that we start looking for answers and I could see where some would think that more religion wouldn't hurt.

Then by all means, spend entire Sundays talking about it.

IMO the problem is lack of parenting and rampant drug use which is not anything religion can fix.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Actually, as a christian, I do think that "more religion wouldn't hurt"

But, that's not how I read Fitswimmer's question. My first instinct was to think there are people out there with no moral compass at all. I see so many students in my class who's parents have totally dropped the ball in instilling any type of values system at all, religious or secular. Third graders that think nothing of stealing, lying, cheating...it gets more surprising every year.

Exactly. It's never wise to depend on outside influences to teach your child morals.

 

[Pixiedust34]

That is such a sad story. WTH is wrong with people?!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Then by all means, spend entire Sundays talking about it.

IMO the problem is lack of parenting and rampant drug use which is not anything religion can fix.

A little religion wouldn't hurt though.