The father of a star high school running back fatally stabbed during a brawl with two parking attendants ended the saga Friday when he was allowed to plead guilty to assault even while still claiming his innocence.
Andre Muller, 42, faced up to seven years in prison for the June 2011 attack of the Jerome Avenue lot workers who he thought had stolen a $200 bottle of cologne he left in the car while attending his son’s graduation.
Isayah, 19, who led Truman HS to the city championship, was knifed in the chest when he entered the fracas to help his father. A Bronx grand jury cleared the attendants of any wrongdoing and indicted Muller of second degree assault after a surveillance video shows him throwing the first punch and attacking the workers with a shovel.
Bronx Judge William Mogulescu agreed to allow Muller to take the Alford Plea and sentence him to time served since he was sentenced to two years in the state prison for an unrelated crime in Manhattan. The judge said in prior hearings that Muller has “suffered enough” with the loss of his son.
“The interest of justice is well served with this guilty plea,” the judge said.
His lawyer Robert Walters said his client was relieved the ordeal is over.
“He still feels that his family has been done a serious and grievous injustice with the loss of his son.”
He will be sentenced May 3rd.