Attorney of Empire Building Daredevil Couple Speaks Out, Accuses DA’s Office of Overcharging
The lawyer representing the daredevil couple who climbed the Empire State Building has some words for the DA’s office as he outlines his defense strategy.
The world was stunned on Wednesday when Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau took their love to unbelievable heights by scaling the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot antenna to get engaged.
Unfortunately, the risky act has landed the couple in legal hot water with a felony charge their lawyer thinks is extreme.
Empire Building Daredevil Couple’s Attorney Slams DA’s Office
Following the charges levied against the pair, their lawyer, Jason Krinsky, explained in an interview that he has decided not to reveal his defense strategy yet.
“We’re not gonna be making any statement of defense yet because we haven’t had the chance to review all of the discovery yet,” he said to The New York Post.
He emphasized that he and his team needed to go through the discovery with a “fine comb” before they could clearly assess the situation.
However, Krinsky believes prosecutors went overboard with their charges. “Based on my reading of this complaint, the DA’s Office overcharged here,” he declared confidently.
The lawyer added, “Even the building’s own people, the Empire State’s own people, said there was no risk to tenants, guests on the observation deck, or anyone in the building,” arguing that the case had no bail condition.
Attorney Defends Daredevil Couple’s Message Of Love
When asked about the couple’s motivation for climbing the Empire State Building, Krinsky noted that he wasn’t in the right position to speak on behalf of his clients.
Nevertheless, he revealed that Beerkus and Nikoloau had a message to send to the world with their risky climb.
“It was a message of love, all right? And you know, that’s a nice thing,” he concluded.
The lovebirds have echoed a similar sentiment, declaring their belief in the power of love after leaving their arraignment session at the Manhattan Criminal Court.
The Couple Were Charged With Felonies
After their stunt, Beerkus and Nikolau were taken into custody upon reaching the ground and later slammed with multiple felony charges.
According to the Associated Press, the pair was arraigned on felony burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of burglar’s tools and criminal trespass. If convicted, the lovebirds can spend up to seven years behind bars.
Prosecutors also demanded that the Russian natives be put on supervised release for their own safety after allegedly causing $2,000 worth of damage during the break-in to access the Empire State Building’s antenna.
Inside The Netflix Couple’s Daredevil Adventure
It comes as no surprise that Beerkus and Nikolau managed to scale the risky height given their rise to fame as the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”
The duo has also climbed the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, the world’s second-tallest building. However, their journey to the top of the Empire State Building seemed premeditated.
According to reports, Beerkus told police he made the climb to “do something special” for the proposal.
According to The New York Post, the couple is suspected of purchasing tickets at the Empire State Building on Tuesday at around 9 p.m. and hiding at the Midtown landmark overnight.
They allegedly breached a gate on the 102nd floor to get to the 103rd floor, where they accessed the antenna.
The next morning, they made their way to the building’s antenna where they unfolded a banner with the words, “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
Afterward, Beerkus and Nikolau climbed down to a platform where the former popped the big question to his cat-mask-wearing fiancée.
Did The Russian Couple Have Inside Help?
As more details emerge about Beerkus and Nikolau’s dangerous adventure, investigators are examining how the couple accomplished their daring feat.
Experts believe the duo might have had some help, as questions arise about whether they had previously visited to scout the famous building, given that they left behind their burglary equipment.
Although the pair purchased tickets to the Empire State Building, they were required to go through an airport-style security screening area with bag checks and X-ray machines before going up.
Also, law enforcement noted in their criminal complaint that access to the 103rd floor requires an employee-restricted access card, The Blast reported.
Originally published on theblast.com