Rose Morat

Rose Morat (8 April 1906–) is a 102-year-old New York City resident and retired telecommunications worker.cite web |url=http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=43870 |title=AMW Fugitive Data File for Unknown Rose Morat Mugger |accessdate=2007-03-22 |format=html |work=America's Most Wanted ] On the afternoon of March 4, 2007 she was viciously assaulted and mugged in the lobby of her building on the way to church. A grainy video captured the assault, during which the alleged attacker, Jack Rhodes, 44, [cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/2007/04/28/2007-04-28_excon_jailed_as_lowlife_mugger-1.html |title=Ex-Con Jailed as Lowlife Mugger |accessdate=2007-04-28 |format=html |work=New York Daily News ] struck her several times in the face. The video has been broadcast by media outlets world wide and has incited outrage among New Yorkers.cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031400477.html |title=NYC Livid Over Attack on Woman, 101 |accessdate=2007-03-22 |format=html |work=The Washington Post |last=Toosi |first=Nahal |date=2007-03-14 ] A substantial reward was offered by several sources, including the police, for information leading to the capture of the suspect.

As a result of Morat's assault, New York State Senator Marty Golden has introduced a bill that would make it a felony to assault anyone over 70 years old.>cite web |url=http://www.bayridgecourier.com/site/tab5.cfm?newsid=18114236&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=552851&rfi=6 |title=New measure introduced to safeguard the elderly — Video of shocking attack on 101-year-old sparks action |accessdate=2007-03-22 |format=html |work=Bay Ridge Courier |last=Tracy |first=Thomas |date=2007-03-22 ] The bill would increase the legal penalty to seven years if the victim were injured during the assault. Currently, assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. The bill has found support from such public figures as Senator Hillary Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

References

* CNN: Hard-bitten New Yorkers want mugger's head [http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/14/mugging.outrage.ap/index.html]
* New York Press: Reward For Old Lady-Basher [http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=82354362]
* Cops: Find This Sad Excuse For A Human Being [http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=43870]