There was chaos in a courtroom Wednesday as a Brooklyn man being held in one murder case was charged with another — the grisly killing and dismemberment of a Brooklyn teenager more than a decade ago. NY1's Gene Apodaca has all the details.
Shackled and handcuffed 38-year-old Kwauhuru Govan was dragged into court — screaming and struggling. Court marshals finally shoved him into his seat before Judge Neil Jon Firetog. But his arraignment on murder charges was postponed, because he refused to be fingerprinted.
"I'm being railroaded because I refuse being printed," Govan said. "That gives them a right to assault me? To punch me in my face? Wow! Is that what America has come to? Is this what President Trump would allow?"
The judge would have none of it, telling Govan he would be hauled back into court day after day until he cooperates.
"If he's not printed Friday, I'll see you Monday," the judge said.
Govan was in court after police revealed they had tied him to the murder of Rashawn Brazell in 2005. The 19-year-old’s remains were found stuffed in garbage bags. For years the grisly murder had gone unsolved, but then police got a break.
"Mr. Govan's DNA was not on file until he was arrested charged with robbery in Florida," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. "Once that became on file we were able to match that match."
That DNA match, police say, tied Govan to the murder of Sharabia Thomas — a 17-year-old killed in 2004. Detectives then interviewed Govan and eventually linked him to Brazell’s death. Govan and Brazell had lived across the street from each other in Brooklyn.
"Because of geography of each person lived that's what focused on this case right here," Boyce said.
"I want to thank the detectives the agency the whole cold case unit for just standing by my family," said Brazell's mother.
Acting district attorney Eric Gonzales says this is the third cold case his office and the NYPD have cracked since the summer. His office now plans to open a new cold case division.
"With new advances in science and forensic ability we can go back and figure out which cases are suitable for new testing," Gonzales said.
Detective Boyce said investigators are looking into whether Govan might be linked to other cold cases — in the city, and other places where he has lived.
Meanwhile, the judge has signed a force order authorizing the city department of correction to get Govan's fingerprints involuntarily.
His arraignment is set for March 2.