A 70-year-old man accused of fatally knifing his elderly roommate during a brawl at their Manhattan senior residence was released without bail Thursday after claiming he acted in self-defense.
Michael Pinder was granted supervised release at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment on charges of first-degree manslaughter in the death of 71-year-old Joseph Pescitelli at the Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence in Hell’s Kitchen Tuesday night.
Prosecutors requested Pinder be released as they investigate his claims that he was defending himself against Pescitelli after his roommate came at him with the knife first, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said.
Pinder — who has several prior arrests, but all dating back more than two decades — allegedly told cops after his arrest that he’d “struggled” with Pescitelli inside their apartment at the supportive housing building.
Police responding to a 911 call at the residence on West 57th Street near Tenth Avenue found the victim in a bathtub “covered in blood with apparent stab wounds to his back and arm,” according to a criminal complaint.
The gravely wounded septuagenarian was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside, but could not be saved, police said.
He died “as a result of a stab wound to the back,” according to prosecutors.
Pinder was taken to the hospital for injuries to his hands and chest, authorities said.
Prosecutors also cited his age, and the fact that he was last arrested in 2000, as reasons why supervised release would be the least restrictive means to ensure he returns to court.
Judge Janet McDonnell granted the request.
Pinder has six prior criminal cases, including for criminal possession of a controlled substance and grand larceny, most from the 1990s.
His next court date in the manslaughter case is Jan. 22.
