Mayhem broke out in a Long Island courthouse yesterday after drunken-boating charges against an air-traffic controller were thrown out – and his lawyer and pals started throwing punches at reporters covering the tragedy that took the life of a young girl.
The family of victim Brianna Lineck was outraged at the prosecution’s decision and left the proceedings in Central Islip early rather than see Steven Fleischer walk out of court a free man
As reporters and photographers gathered in the hallway outside the courtroom, several of Fleischer’s husky friends formed a phalanx around him and began pushing their way through the crowd.
At least two photographers were injured, including a female photographer hit in the throat and Newsday photographer Dan Goodrich, who said he was beaten by two people – including Fleischer’s lawyer, William Lavelle.
Lavelle shoved Goodrich to the floor and punched him in the face while cursing him.
“The lawyer and another person punched me,” said Goodrich, who suffered a lacerated lip and multiple contusions.
“I’m going to press charges,” he added.
Several members of the media became angry when court officers finally intervened – because the officers also began shoving reporters and photographers, including those who had been injured.
Brianna, 11, died in the Aug. 17 crash in Great South Bay when Fleischer ran a friend’s boat at high speed over the boat carrying the girl, her sister, her parents and a friend. The parents were badly hurt.
Suffolk prosecutor Nancy Clifford asked Judge Glenn Murphy to drop the charges against Fleischer because no booze was found in his blood.
Fleischer initially refused to take a Breathalyzer test and cops were not able to get a warrant forcing him to do so for four hours.