Celebrity News December 05, 2012
NY Post Photog Defends Final Snaps of Man Killed by Subway Train
New York Post freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi appeared on the “Today” show on Wednesday to defend himself after taking photos of a man who was fatally struck by a subway train.
Queens resident Ki-Suk Han, 58, was hit buy the Q train in Manhattan on Monday after being pushed onto the tracks following an argument with an assailant. The next day, the Post ran a photo of Han trying to climb out.
Abbasi has come under fire for taking the pictures rather than trying to help.
"My condolences to the family, and if I could have, I would have pulled Mr. Han out,'' Abbasi told “Today” hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie. "I didn't care about the photographs. If you were to see the raw photographs, you would say, I cannot see anything in them.''
Abbasi, who confirmed he was paid for the photos, said he saw what happened and tried to warn the subway train driver by using his flash since he was further away from Han. Abbassi said the pictures were dark and the Post lightened them.
Police announced they have taken former deli worker Naeem Davis into custody for questioning about Monday's incident, adding that he made statements that implicated him in the crime. Davis has several prior minor arrests on his record, but he has not been charged with a crime.