Charges dismissed in Brownsville playground rape

Charges were dismissed Thursday against the teens accused in the Brownsville gang rape case. On Jan. 7, police arrested Denzel Murray, 14, Shaquell Cooper, 15, Ethan Phillip, 15, Onandi Brown, 17,

News 12 Staff

Mar 4, 2016, 5:11 AM

Updated 3,219 days ago

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Charges were dismissed Thursday against the teens accused in the Brownsville gang rape case.
On Jan. 7, police arrested Denzel Murray, 14, Shaquell Cooper, 15, Ethan Phillip, 15, Onandi Brown, 17, and Travis Beckford, 17, in connection with the alleged gang rape inside Osborn Playground. They were charged as adults.
Three of the five teens appeared in court Thursday to officially hear the decision to dismiss.
The lawyers who have been representing the teens throughout the entire process were relieved but also expressed some frustration following the decision to drop charges.
Attorney Spencer Leeds expressed to the judge that it is reprehensible that the father is still remaining anonymous and is not being prosecuted, even though the district attorney claims the father and daughter were engaging in sexual conduct. He also says it is wrong that the daughter is not being punished for giving a false report to police.
Kenneth Montgomery, Murray's lawyer, says he is not sure if it would be the right decision to prosecute the father.
"For him to be charged, his daughter has to be the person who is the complainant against him," says Montgomery.
Murray told News 12 Brooklyn that he is relieved with the decision to drop the charges.
Neither Leeds nor Montgomery have made any decisions on whether they will be suing the city for the charges against the teens.