Baltimore - Alleged Teen Victim In Shomrim Case Now Wants Charges Dropped; Judge Denies

Baltimore, MD - The 15-year-old African-American boy who accused two brothers of beating him now says he wants the charges dropped.

The alleged victim took the stand on Wednesday but refused to testify in the bench trial for Eliyahu and Avi Werdesheim who were charged with the 2010 beating.

The prosecutor said the teenager was on his way to a doctor’s appointment when the brothers– who were patrolling for a Jewish neighborhood watch in Baltimore– confronted him. He added that one of the brothers threw the teen to the ground and another hit him on the head.

The defense attorney, however, said the teen was holding a nail-stubbed board and the brothers hit him in self-defense.

The judge told the alleged victim it was not his decision to have charges dropped. The judge did not hold the teen in contempt, but said there could be consequences.

The alleged victim’s grandfather was thrown out of court Wednesday for making expressions and motions at the teen while he was on the stand.