In 1987, Stephen
Murphy rocketed to national prominence during the 'Howard Beach' trial,
one of the most racially volatile cases in New York City's history.
One night in December, 1986, Michael Griffith and two other black men
were attacked by a dozen white teenagers, shouting epithets and racial
slurs, wielding baseball bats and other weapons. Mr.
Griffith was chased by the mob onto a highway where he was struck and
killed by a car.
Four of the group were charged--two with man-slaughter and two with
second degree murder. Mr. Murphy agreed to represent Michael Pirone
who faced
manslaughter charges. Although the racial aspects of the case
greatly disturbed him, he had a job to do, and his aggressive,
no-holds- barred defense of his client became the subject of nightly
television news coverage and feature articles in New York City's major
newspapers: the Times, the Daily News, the Post and
Newsday.
His client was the only defendant to be found not guilty of all
charges.
New York City again
had been rocked by a crime which had
it questioning its identity as a liberal and open-minded city with
generally good race relations. A black teenager, Yusef
Hawkins, 16, and three friends were attacked by a white, teen-aged mob
in Bensonhurst, Queens and Mr. Hawkins was shot and killed. This
time, Mr. Murphy's client was Keith Mondello who was accused of
being the prime instigator and ring-leader, rioting, weapons possession,
discrimination, unlawful imprisonment, murder and manslaughter.Mr.
Murphy's defense strategy was to concede the lesser charges and to focus on the
major ones--the murder and manslaughter charges. Mr. Mondello had
confessed to the police that he'd organized the gang and armed them
with baseball bats.
As was the case with Howard Beach,
this trial dominated the news -- receiving daily television and
newspaper coverage. During and after the trial, Mr. Murphy was
interviewed on Donahue, Oprah,
Nightline, and all of the local news and talk shows. After eleven days of jury deliberation, Mr. Mondello was acquitted of murder
and manslaughter chargesRead 
more
news articles about Mr. Murphy.
"Murphy's
trials are high drama - funny, ferocious, full of surprises,
emotional, convincing. Dressed in thousand dollar suits, he spellbinds
juries with soaring summations in the gritty language of the common man. Many times juries acquit his clients simply because they love Murphy.
Believe me, if you're a juror lost in the fog of a tedious trial, Murphy's
your North Star."
Denis Hamill
Featured Columnist, NY Daily News
"[Murphy]...
is a cult hero among the working class."
Joe Hynes
Brooklyn District Attorney
"Murphy is the single best trial
lawyer, I've ever seen. I never saw a lawyer work harder for his
client. An amazing advocate. He puts himself in legal danger for
his client."
Judge Thomas Demakos
Retired Queens Supreme Court Justice
and the judge who
presided over the Howard Beach trial.
"Murphy's a real ball of fire.
He had the police officers so
confused that I almost felt sorry for them..."
...if I or someone I care about ever gets in trouble, he's the first
one I'm calling."
Alternate Juror
A recent trial in Brooklyn, NY
"He's a very aggressive, very
accomplished trial lawyer.
He comes extremely well-prepared [and is] a
very good cross-examiner. You have to stay very focused
against Murphy. But then no one ever falls asleep with Murphy
in the courtroom."
A Veteran Assistant District Attorney
Queens, NY
"Murphy's better than 'The Practice',
better than 'Law and Order'. He fights like his own life is on
the line."
"...I owe my life to the Lord, my loyal wife, to 50 Cent, and to
Stephen Murphy. He the man."
Barja Walter
Former
client and bodyguard to prominent rap star.
"You won't fall asleep when Murphy's on his
feet in a courtroom. I love guys like
Murphy."
Irene Cornell
WCBS Radio
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