A shocking incident unfolded in Niagara Falls as a severely burned woman was discovered walking down Niagara Street early Sunday morning. She informed Niagara Falls Police Officers that she had been set on fire by a man at a food truck, later identified as the owner.
The accused, Barinder Singh, was charged with first-degree assault but was released under the supervision of the Niagara County Probation Department by a Niagara Falls judge on Tuesday. According to a police report, the victim recounted the horrifying attack and identified Singh as her assailant.
City Court Judge Diane Vitello released Singh without bail following his arraignment on the first-degree assault charge. The release came despite a request from Niagara County prosecutors to hold him without bail. Court documents revealed that videos retrieved from Singh's cellphone showed the severely burned woman and the food truck owner threatening her and accusing her of theft.
Two videos, one before and one after the attack, depicted Singh pouring a flammable substance on the victim and setting her head and other parts of her body on fire. The victim, a 48-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns and was in critical condition at Erie County Medical Center. Her injuries included burns to her head, arms, and body.
Singh, a resident of Niagara Falls, allegedly poured more of the flammable substance on the victim as she burned. City officials announced Singh's arrest in a news release, stating that police responded to the area of Seventh and Niagara streets early Sunday morning. Singh was brought to the victim's location, where she positively identified him as her attacker. Singh's mother reportedly extinguished the fire on the victim's body.
The investigation is ongoing and police have withheld the victim's name as they attempt to reach her family. Singh was represented by a defense attorney from the Niagara County Public Defender's Office during his arraignment. The release of Singh has sparked controversy and raised concerns about public safety. The decision was apparently made due to the victim's inability to provide further details about the incident due to her extreme pain and medical condition.
No further information is aavailable at this time - Food Truck Owner Charged with Setting Woman on Fire Released by Niagara Falls Judge.