Tyler Flach arraigned on murder charge after Oceanside stabbing

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Tyler Flach, the Lido Beach teen charged in the stabbing death of an Oceanside student, pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges during an arraignment in a Nassau County court on Thursday.

Flach, 19, was indicted on Sept. 24 by a Nassau County grand jury on several charges including second-degree murder, second-degree gang assault, third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Flach was arraigned today before Judge Howard Sturim and pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney, Edward Sapone, did not request bail.

Sapone maintained his client’s innocence while speaking to reporters outside the courthouse.

“The bottom line is that Tyler Flach very strongly maintains his innocence and Tyler Flach did not commit a crime,” Sapone said.“The videos capture a snapshot of what occurred that day. It does not capture what happened before or the aftermath.”

Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Ania Pulaski, who is prosecuting the case, handed over a video to Flach's defense team in the courtroom as part of the discovery process — the pretrial exchange of evidence between the prosecution and defense. Sapone told reporters that he and his team will review the video and other evidence before the next court day on Nov. 18.

Prosecutors say that Flach was responsible for the stabbing death of Khaseen Morris on Sept. 16, after a brawl broke out involving at least a couple of dozen teens at an Oceanside strip mall, with numerous bystanders recording the fight. They added that Flach and his friends allegedly attacked Morris and his unnamed 16-year old friend, who suffered a broken arm and head injuries, before Flach stabbed Morris in the heart.

Along with Flach, who was arrested days after the attack, seven other Long Beach teens were arrested and charged with second-degree gang assault for their involvement in the brawl that left Morris dead. Marquis Stephens Jr., 18, Javonte Neals, 18, Taj Woodruff, 17, and Sean Merritt, 17, and two unnamed minors all pleaded not guilty to second-degree gang assault and third-degree assault charges earlier this month.

Police said the brawl began because Khaseen was with seen an ex-girlfriend of one of the unnamed minors who was arrested. Morris’s family has previously said that he was not romantically involved with the girl.

Khaseen Morris’s sisters, who wore replica T-Shirts of the same shirt Khaseen was wearing when he was stabbed, spoke to reporters after the arraignment.

“Facing or seeing the person that murdered our brother is probably one of the most difficult moments,” Keyanna Morris said.

“It’s hard to stay as strong as we want to, when we do have to look at him in the face,” Kedeemah Morris added. “It’s hard to keep going, but we do know that we have each other.”

When asked about their thoughts of Flach's, not guilty plea, Keyanna said “What’s in the dark will come to light. The truth will also overstep the nonsense.”

Flach’s mother was also in attendance at Thursday’s arraignment but did not speak with reporters.

In a press release, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that Flach faces a potential maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.

“Khaseen Morris was a bright and gregarious young man whose life was stolen in this horrific and senseless act of violence,” Singas said.