Sunny Hostin reveals she was holdout juror in 1991 ‘Butcher of Tompkins Square Park’ trial
NBC News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View,” revealed she was the holdout juror in the 1991 Daniel Rakowitz trial, known as the “Butcher of Tompkins Square Park,” where Rakowitz was accused of killing and dismembering Monika Beerle.
- Hostin explained she held out for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, believing Rakowitz was psychotic and did not intend to kill Beerle, which ultimately led to a unanimous verdict after nine days of intense deliberations.
- The Rakowitz case was highly publicized due to the gruesome nature of the crime, involving boiling and feeding Beerle’s body parts to homeless people in Manhattan’s East Village.
- Hostin’s revelation sparked surprise and debate among her co-hosts on “The View,” with some questioning her decision to acquit Rakowitz on insanity grounds.
- Drawing parallels to the recent Lindsay Clancy case, Hostin defended the use of the insanity defense, agreeing with the argument that Clancy was not criminally responsible due to postpartum psychosis.
