Victim of Hate Crime Speaks Out

By Dan Rivoli

More than a year ago, Driton Nicaj beat and robbed three men on the Upper East Side. They happened to be gay.

One of the victims, Joseph Holladay, was hit in the head with the butt of a silver gun and robbed. He was the only one of Nicaj’s victims to come forward to tell his story and advocate against bias crimes. Read more

BIAS ATTACK BECOMES ASSAULT

Hate crime charges have been dropped against the man arrested for bias attacks in the Upper East Side this summer.

Driton Nicaj, an Upper East Side resident, was arrested in July for the brutal robbery of Joseph Holladay.

When Nicaj, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, was arraigned, he was charged with robbery as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.

But state Supreme Court Judge Ronald Zweibel dropped the hate crime charges Dec. 17. Nicaj faces charges of assault in the third degree.

Holladay was visiting a friend who lives in the Upper East Side during the city’s Pride Week celebrations. Nicaj, acting with several other men, is accused of hitting Holladay in the head with the butt of a silver firearm and robbing him June 27 at 4:15 a.m. Police investigated other bias attacks and robberies.

Nicaj is slated for a Feb. 11, 2010 hearing and trial.