Christine Conte, the aunt of Jason Volz who was fatally shoved in front of a Manhattan train, expressed her anger towards the alleged killer, Carlton McPherson, in court. She stated that she wanted to rip McPherson’s heart out and criticized the use of mental illness as an excuse for the attack. Conte, who referred to herself as Volz’s caretaker, broke down in tears during the courtroom appearance, questioning why McPherson killed her nephew. However, court officers eventually allowed her to remain in the courtroom after she calmed down.
During the arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court, McPherson pleaded not guilty to murdering Volz and sat quietly throughout the proceedings. His family, who sat on the other side of the courtroom, did not speak after the hearing. McPherson’s brother has claimed that he suffers from bipolar disorder, but Conte refuted these claims, labeling him as an evil person and a “motherf–ker”. She argued that not everyone who is sick needs medication and that there are individuals who are simply vicious and want to hurt others.
Conte criticized the tendency to blame violent behavior on mental illness or medication, stating that there are people in the world who are demons and have a natural inclination to hurt others. Prior to the fatal incident, Conte had warned Volz not to take the subway due to the increase in violence underground. Volz, a father and carpenter, was pushed in front of a subway train at the East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue station by McPherson. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the attack a completely unprovoked act of violence and vowed to continue holding perpetrators accountable for threatening the safety of individuals on the subways.
Following the arraignment, McPherson was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear back in court on August 12. His attorney was not available for comment after the court appearance. Conte’s emotional reaction in court highlighted the devastating impact of the random attack on Volz’s family. The incident has brought attention to issues of mental illness, violence, and accountability within the criminal justice system. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the ultimate outcome for McPherson, while the family and loved ones of Jason Volz continue to mourn his loss.
