By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — Prosecutors have charged a second man in connection with the murder of Betty Williams, whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase on an East Harlem sidewalk, according to court documents.
But unlike alleged killer Hassan Malik, who remains behind bars pending trial following a very public arrest and arraignment, Richard Martin was indicted by a grand jury without fanfare, and was released without bail immediately following his arraignment, court documents reveal.
Martin, 47, was indicted on charges that he allegedly helped Malik cover up the killing by tampering with evidence and removing Williams' body after her murder, among other charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Manhattan Supreme Court on Jan. 10, and was released without bail, according to court records. He is due back in court on April 26.
Williams, 28, was found inside in a suitcase on East 114th Street on Dec. 22. Malik allegedly admitted to hitting her with a frying pan and strangling her with an electrical cord, but has claimed it was an act of self-defense.
Malik's lawyer, Lori Cohen, declined to comment on the charges. The Manhattan District Attorney's office would not comment either.
A source familiar with the case said Martin was apparently trusted to return to court without bail as insurance because he voluntarily surrendered to face the charges and because he is charged with a low-level felonies and misdemeanors.
Malik told investigators he approached Martin after Williams' murder Dec. 21, and told him that something "real bad" had happened, according to court documents.
Martin allegedly agreed to come over to Malik's Pleasant Avenue apartment, where he offered Malik advice on how to evade justice, Malik claimed in the documents.
"I asked him if I should call the police and he said that it would look like I killed her on purpose so I should just get rid of the body," Malik said, according to the court papers. Malik added that it was Martin's idea to "dump the suitcase in the Bronx somewhere."
Malik said in his statement to police that Martin helped to clean up the murder scene and to remove Williams' body. Martin brought him the suitcase into which they stuffed Williams' body, and a bottle of bleach, garbage bags and other supplies necessary to clean up the apartment, Malik told investigators.
Martin allegedly contacted Malik shortly after the murder, saying he had contacted police because he was skittish about video released by the NYPD. Martin urged Malik to do the same, he said.
Malik is due back in court on April 5.
