By Jonann Brady
The girl, whose name is not being released, sustained severe injuries to her face and, though her right eye was saved, may still lose vision in that eye, said First Precinct Det. Robert Reulbach, who spoke to the victim's mother on Monday. The girl has received at least 150 stitches to her face and will have to undergo extensive plastic surgery, said Reulbach.
Kathrine Pearsall, 17, of Seaman Avenue was arraigned on Thursday, April 25 on three counts of first-degree assault and one count of criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence. Her boyfriend, Christopher Shaw, 23, of Grand Boulevard, was also arraigned for tampering with evidence. Both are out on bail.
The assault apparently stemmed from an argument between the victim and Pearsall's 15-year-old cousin. The victim and a group of six or seven friends were hanging out at Plaza School last Wednesday evening around 7 p.m. when Pearsall, her cousin and the two girls' boyfriends approached the group, said Reulbach.
Words were exchanged and a fight ensued, with Pearsall allegedly picking up an empty bottle of rum and repeatedly hitting the victim until the bottle broke. Pearsall apparently continued to smash the victim with the jagged bottle, said police.
Shaw eventually pulled Pearsall off the girl, and Pearsall, Shaw and the cousin fled the scene. Pearsall and Shaw then allegedly went to Shaw's house and put their blood-soaked clothing in the washing machine.
Several other people were in the schoolyard, including parents and children playing soccer, said Reulbach. One of the onlookers called 911.
Later that night, Pearsall and Shaw showed up at the First Precinct. "They came in to say there was a dispute and they were attacked," said Reulbach. Police interviewed a number of witnesses and determined Pearsall was the assailant.
"She [Pearsall] took it in the way she was defending herself," said Reulbach. "She was sorry for the girl but she said she had to defend herself."
Reulbach said there was some indication that the larger group of kids which included the victim may have been drinking and that's where the liquor bottle came from. No independent witnesses have verified that they were drinking, he said.
No one answered the door at Pearsall's home and Shaw's mother said he could not comment on the attack. "There's another side of the story," she said. "It will be done in court."
Pearsall will appear in First District Court in Hempstead on May 13.
