A Queens man is accused of strangling his then-girlfriend aboard a cruise ship in international waters after she said she wanted to break up with him.
According to the indictment, Carlos Batista Jr., 22, was on the unidentified cruise ship (which had been on a tour of the Bahamas) returning to NYC on September 7th when the incident occurred. After the victim, whose name has not been released, told him she wanted to end their relationship, Batista allegedly "grabbed, dragged, pushed and pulled" her through the hallways of the ship. When the woman screamed for help, he allegedly "covered her mouth and restricted her breathing, at one point causing the victim’s body to go limp."
Prosecutors say Batista dragged her into his cabin and "continued to assault her until others on the ship responded to the screaming." When they were able to get inside the room, they allegedly found Batista with his arm around her neck.
"Thankfully others on the ship came to her aid," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. "Now Batista is back on New York soil and must answer for his alleged criminal actions."
Batista, an Elmurst resident, has been charged with one count of assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangling or suffocating, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
