Queens judge arraigns two in Rockaways taxi driver fare evasion beating death; ‘Entire family grieving,’ says DA Katz

Two men accused of beating a taxi driver to death in Queens cheated their victim of a fare of around $70 and stole the life of a beloved husband and father, Queens DA Melinda Katz said Friday.

“An entire family is now grieving the tragic and senseless loss of their loved one because of this abhorrent behavior,” Katz said in a statement.

Two of the three suspects arrested in the beating death of cabbie Kutin Gyimah, 52, were arraigned Friday night in Queens Criminal Court.

Austin Amos, 20, who faces manslaughter, gang assault and theft of services charges, was ordered held without bail. A criminal complaint says Amos threw the punches that twice knocked Gyimah to the ground — including the second punch that led to his death.

Nickolas Porter, 20, who faces gang assault and theft of services charges, had bail set at $75,000 cash or bond. Porter may also post a partially secured bond of $300,000, a percentage of which would have to paid up in cash.

“As alleged, these two defendants, with two juveniles, fatally assaulted a taxicab driver after he confronted them for fare evasion,” Katz said.

Amos and Porter were arrested along with a 15-year-old girl, who was charged with gang assault and theft of services. A second juvenile remained at large on Friday night.

Police say Amos, Porter and the 15-year-old girl were among a group of young people who attacked Gyimah about 6:30 a.m. last Saturday after he dropped them off on Beach 54th St. near Arverne Blvd. in the Edgemere section of the Rockaways.

According to a criminal complaint, Amos and Porter were passengers with three juvenile girls. When they left the yellow minivan, the group refused to pay the fare and ran away in different directions.

Gyimah pursued them on foot and caught up to one of the girls. Video surveillance footage shows him struggling with the girl until Amos circles back and starts punching Gyimah until he falls to the ground.

The farebeaters then surrounded him and punched and kicked him as he lay on the ground, said police.

Gyimah managed to get up, but Amos’ second blow sent him back to the pavement, where he hit his head, officials said.

Katz said emergency medical responders transported the victim to a local hospital where he died from blunt force trauma injuries to his head.

Cops said the remaining suspect at large is a 13-year-old girl. One of the three girls, a 16 year old, is not expected to be charged, sources said.