The drunken construction worker who admitted to brutally beating a nurse at a Hell's Kitchen bar last year was sentenced to 16 years in prison yesterday. Mbarek Lafrem, a 32-year-old Moroccan man, had pleaded guilty to charges of assault and attempted sex abuse in July, with his lawyer saying Lafrem thought it was the "right thing" to do. But at the sentencing yesterday, he tried to withdraw his plea deal at the last minute, which was rejected by the judge. “It does appear to be a boilerplate motion filed by many defendants who are often having buyer’s remorse, so to speak, after having time to contemplate their plea. It appears to be a last-ditch effort,” said Shanda Strain, an assistant district attorney. more ›

The Pennsylvania construction worker accused of viciously beating and sexually assaulting a woman at a Midtown bar—because she refused to dance with him—pleaded guilty yesterday. Mbarek Lafrem had originally tried to blame the victim, a pediatric nurse, claiming, "She was trying to push me so I punched her in the face twice and pushed her back in the stall," but yesterday his lawyer said, "He felt it was the right thing to do at this juncture." more ›

The man under arrest for allegedly beating a woman in a Midtown bar bathroom, leaving her unconscious with a fractured skull, a broken nose and a broken eye socket, spoke in a jailhouse interview today and expressed remorse. Mbarek Lafrem said, "I wasn’t myself. I was somebody else. I’ve never acted like that before. I made a mistake. I have to pay for it. I’m in the hole." more ›

The construction worker who was arrested for the vicious beating of a woman in a Midtown bar's bathroom told the police he was acting in self-defense. According to court papers, Mbarek Lafrem said, "She was trying to push me so I punched her in the face twice and pushed her back in the stall." more ›

Police say they have arrested a man they believe viciously attacked a woman in the bathroom of a Midtown bar early Thursday morning. Mbarek Lafrem, 30, of Norwood, Pa. was charged with first- and second-degree assault and attempted rape. UPDATE: Now prosecutors have added a charge of attempted murder, because of the victim's severe injuries. more ›