Accused Testifies in Alleged Hate Crime Case

New York, NY —

Jury members got to hear directly from Nicholas Minucci yesterday. He's the Howard Beach man accused of beating a black man with a bat as part of an alleged hate crime. Queens prosecutors played a videotape of an interview they conducted with Minucci just hours after the incident.

REPORTER: During the interview, Minucci recounted how he used a racial slur, the N word, right before beating one of 3 black men he says tried to rob him of his gold chain and Rolex. Minucci suggested his use of the word was casual, rather than malicious. He also said race had nothing to do with his going after the 3 men.

MINUCCI: It has nothing to do with hate crime. If my friend did this, I'd do the same thing. It doesn't matter what color you are.

REPORTER: Minucci's testimony conflicts with earlier testimony for the prosecution, when it suggested he came after the 3 men without any provocation, and because they were loitering in am overwhelmingly white neighborhood. If Minucci is convicted of a hate crime, he faces up to 25 years in prison.