The mother of a postal worker stabbed to death in a Manhattan deli slammed prosecutors on Wednesday for striking a deal that allowed her son’s ruthless killer to plead guilty in exchange for only 15 years in prison.
“She’s going to get out early and kill again,” Ada Rice told The Post after Jaia Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of USPS postman Roy Hodge on January 2 at Joe’s Deli Grocery in Harlem.
The plea agreement comes less than three months after prosecutors indicted Cruz on a second-degree murder charge for the broad daylight killing, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years to life.
However, Hodge’s mother said she was taken aback when Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Clerkin told Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Gregory Carro that Cruz “expresses remorse and has asked to accept responsibility for [Hodge’s] death” — despite prosecutors admitting that Hodge’s family opposed the offer.
Rice said she was “very upset” with the judicial system, in part because she claims the Manhattan District Attorney’s office told her they believed in the strength of the case, particularly a video from inside the bodega that allegedly shows Cruz sparring with Hodge after he cut her in line at the deli counter.
“Initially, the DA told me that there would be no plea deal because they said they saw the video and [that they’re] satisfied,” Rice said, expressing regret that Cruz has not been charged federally.
“I’m upset this person wasn’t charged federally,” she told me. “[My son] died in a federal uniform, which makes him a federal employee.”
The two then got into a fight, with Hodge throwing a plastic lemon juice bottle at Cruz before stabbing him multiple times, according to prosecutors. When Hodge collapsed, Cruz stood over him, saying, “He deserved it.”
Prosecutors said that Cruz had requested an early resolution in the case.
At the hearing Wednesday, one of Hodge’s supporters had to be escorted out by court officer because she flipped out at the offer.
“This is not justice!” the woman screamed inside the courtroom, according to witnesses. “You said you was happy to see him die!”
Cruz’s attorney, Mitchell Schuman, did not immediately respond to comment regarding the plea deal.
Schuman had accused Hodge of being the aggressor at Cruz’s arraignment in January, claiming that video showed he took off his jacket and struck her first — causing Cruz to react and stab him with the knife.
He also said that Hodge berated her with slurs before the altercation.
Cruz will also receive a five-year supervised release sentence as part of the plea agreement.
She is expected to be sentenced on May 28.
