US: Indian-origin man charged with killing, sexually abusing his elderly mother

An Indian-origin man has been charged with killing and sexually assaulting his 65-year-old mother at their residence in New York on the eve of Mother's Day.

The accused, identified as Pushkar Sharma, murdered his mom, Soraj Sharma, on Saturday.

As maintained by a criminal complaint, “with an uncontrollable urge to hurt someone”, the accused held his mother from behind, choked and stabbed her until she fell on the floor.

Once she went down, Pushkar allegedly continued the abuse by strangling and beating his mother before sexually assaulting her. The victim fell unconscious and breathe one's last.

As per the criminal complaint, Pushkar Sharma told police that “he continued choking her (mother) until he was pretty sure she was dead.”

Soaked in blood, the accused picked up his wallet and keys and walked to the 105th Precinct, where he confessed to the crime, the New York Daily News quoted police and prosecutors as saying.

The victim's daughter found her mother lying unconscious in the cellar and took her to Long Island Jewish Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Astounded by the murder, Sharma's neighbour Kelvin called to mind a past episode in which neighbours had called police because of Sharma's erratic behaviour.

“So, it’s not the first time. He’s been in trouble before. You can clearly tell that he has some mental health issues,” Kelvin said.

“The family was really nice and friendly. I am shocked to know that the son could’ve done this,” Kevin said.

“What should have been a celebration of Mother’s Day became a brutal, tragic nightmare for a Queens family,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

The accused was charged with murder and sexual assault on Sunday. He was ordered held without bail.

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