Another Reason to Distrust Black Cars: You Might Get Raped

Here at Above the Law, your editors always avoid the black cars / livery cabs that populate the city. Instead, we trust yellow medallion cabs. This preference dates all the way back to our days in Biglaw. Lat would often take yellow cabs, even if he was entitled to a Fone-A-Car thanks to pulling ridiculous hours at Wachtell. I took livery cabs all the time coming home after-hours from Debevoise, until one night, coming back from Brooklyn — on non-firm related business, unfortunately — I was robbed by a driver.

These cars just aren’t to be trusted. Take the case of one NYU law student from back in 2000. Returning home after a night out in lower Manhattan, she claims she was raped by a friend of the black-car driver taking her home.

Thankfully, yesterday the alleged assailant was arrested. DNA evidence he turned over after more recent criminal activity matched up with the rape kit the NYU Law victim filed a decade ago….

Suspect Rajeev Kumar pleaded not guilty to rape charges on Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News (gavel bang: ABA Journal):

DNA solved the cold case when Rajeev Kumar was convicted of arson in May, Manhattan prosecutors said.

The cash-strapped Kumar, 30, had to submit a DNA sample after confessing he torched his own limo on a Queens street in hopes of collecting insurance money.

His genetic profile matched a rape kit logged after the student reported she was attacked on Aug. 4, 2000, officials said.

One of the best weapons for law enforcement is the stupidity of criminals.

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But just because this one alleged rapist is off the streets doesn’t mean NYU law students should flock back to black cars. Trust the heavily regulated yellow cabs (which are plentiful in Manhattan).

… and maybe stay out of Brooklyn, where the only way back to Manhattan late at night is by livery cab — or being carried off on the backs of bedbugs.

DNA snares Queens limo driver for 2000 rape of NYU law student [NY Daily News]
Limo Driver Arrested in 2000 Rape of NYU Law Student [ABA Journal]

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