Another Day of Frustration as Pena Case Heads to 23rd Court Date

MARCH 3 -- Transit workers generally sit on the left side of Part 32 on the 13th Floor of Manhattan Criminal Court in the case of the people v. Domonic Whilby. Today, we filled those seats, assembling at 9AM only to hear Judge Gregory Carro, after an inaudible conference with the smiling attorney for the killer of our fallen Bus Operator, announce that there would be yet another postponement in the long-running case. Assistant District Attorney Randolph Clarke confirmed to Nancy Rodriguez, William Pena’s widow, that for an unexplained reason, the Corrections Department had failed to produce Whilby this morning so the trial could move forward. Coming out of the courtroom with dozens of transit workers, family attorney Sanford Rubenstein told members how important their presence is, and how important it will be going forward. At a press conference in front of the courthouse, Nancy Rodriguez, Willie’s widow, thanked transit workers for attending, commended the Union for standing with her family, and insisted that she is against any plea deal that would detract from the maximum penalty for the murder of her husband.