By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The man accused in a fatal stabbing after a late night argument at a Midtown falafel truck was acquitted on manslaughter charges Wednesday night, according to reports.
Ziad Tayeh, 26, argued the stabbing was in self-defense at his trial. He said the 19-year-old victim, Tyrone Noel Gibbons, held a Swiss Army knife to his neck and threatened to cut him.
After buying food at the popular Halal stand at 53rd and Sixth Avenue back in 2006, Tayeh and Gibbons got into separate cars and met again on Seventh Avenue, where Gibbons' vehicle blocked off Tayeh's SUV, according to testimony at trial.
Gibbons and two others got out of their car and demanded Tayeh get out of his and fight. Tayeh said he was scared of being trapped in the car and thought showing them his weapon would scare them off.
The fight began when Gibbons, his brother and a friend cut a food line of 10 to 15 people and then starting having words with Tayeh, according to testimony.
"I'm glad the truth showed, that I expected it, thank God," Tayeh said after the verdict, according to the Daily News.
