IRYNA Zarutska’s grieving boyfriend has slammed the judge responsible for freeing the repeat felon charged with her horrific murder.
Widespread outrage erupted after the Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed by Decarlos Brown Jr, aboard a train in North Carolina, as she returned home from work on August 22.
Disturbing CCTV footage shows the 23-year-old on a Charlotte train in her work uniform from Zepeddie’s Pizzeria, moments before and after the attack.
Her killer, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., sat in the seat directly behind her before he unfolded a knife, rose to his feet and violently attacked her.
Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree murder over Zarutska’s death – making him eligible for the death penalty.
Zarutska’s boyfriend, Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, 21, has publicly expressed his grief and anger over the horrific murder.
On Wednesday, he posted a photo on Instagram of the two of them in swimsuits at a lake, captioned simply with a broken heart emoji.
He also changed his bio to include a mushroom emoji – believed to be Zarutska’s favourite – alongside another broken heart.
The young man is described as Zarutska’s “life partner” in her obituary, which revealed that the couple had been living together in Charlotte for the past year.
Nikulytsia has also directed his anger at Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who freed Brown on cashless bail seven months before the attack.
He reposted Instagram stories calling Stokes “unqualified” and accusing the justice system of enabling violent repeat offenders.
Stokes released Brown, who had been involved in 14 criminal cases, in January on a “written promise” to appear at a future court date.
The tragic case has sparked a debate over cashless bail policies, with many questioning how Brown – a man with a history of violent offences – was free to walk the streets.
On August 22, he carried out an attack that drew outrage, and as a result, prompted a response from Donald Trump.
Distressing footage shows Zarutska boarding the train and propping her feet up as she looks at her phone.
Other passengers in the carriage are also looking at their phones, except the attacker, who, cloaked in a red hoodie, stares out of the window as the train pulls away from the station.
Just four minutes after Zarutska boards the train, Brown attacks her.
Immediately after the attack, she looks up in horror, appearing to sob as she lowers her head into her hands.
One man sat nearby jumps up and chases after the attacker, who walks away with blood dripping from the knife.
Other passengers appear frozen, failing to react in the immediate aftermath.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump pledged a “vicious” response following the horrific crime.
The US president also publicly blamed cashless bail programs, which allow some suspects to be released without posting bond while awaiting trial.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said Zarutska’s killing proved that Democrat-run cities are failing to protect citizens.
“In Charlotte, North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23-year-old woman who came here from Ukraine met her bloody end on a public train,” he said.
“She was slaughtered by a deranged monster who is roaming free after 14 prior arrests.”
Trump went on to call for a nationwide crackdown on crime, urging law enforcement to use “force and strength” to prevent future tragedies.
