Witness Of East Village Parking Dispute Takes The Stand
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A witness in an assault case over a parking space in Manhattan says she never saw someone punch another person with such force.
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Eye-witness Elizabeth McWilliams took the stand Tuesday in the trial of Oscar Fuller who is accused of hitting Lana Rosas in a fight over a parking spot in the East Village back in February.
Fuller, a 35-year-old electrician, was heading to a birthday party his family was throwing for him when he got into an argument with Rosas on Feb. 25.
He was trying to park his van in a spot that Rosas, who was planning to go out to dinner with her boyfriend, was standing in the space to save it for him.
Prosecutors say Fuller punched the petite Rosas, who's 8 inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than he is, in the face so hard that she was knocked unconscious and off her feet.
She fell and hit her head on the pavement, suffering a skull fracture and spending almost a week in a coma, Assistant District Attorney John "Artie'' McConnell said in his opening statement on Monday.
Fuller drove away and went to the birthday party, the prosecutor said. He was arrested four days later.
McWilliams said Tuesday she didn't see how the argument between Fuller and Rosas started, but said she heard Fuller cursing before he leaned back and punched Rosas in the face.
Fuller said he acted in self-defense after Rosas attacked him first.
Rosas' boyfriend also took the stand Tuesday morning.
If convicted, Fuller could face up to seven years in prison.
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