The failed mayoral candidate accused of punching TikToker Halley Kate on the streets of New York City will represent himself at trial after he pleaded not guilty.
Skiboky Stora, 40, allegedly struck the social media star in the face as she walked around the Chelsea neighborhood on March 25.
He appeared in New York Supreme Court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to third degree assault as a hate crime and asked to be allowed to represent himself.
Justice Althea Drysdale warned him he may not be able to prepare a good defense as he lacks the skills of a trained lawyer, but he said he understood the risks.
Prosecutors claimed Stora had a six-month pattern of hate crimes between September 2023 and March this year and the victims also included a 17-year-old boy walking to school, an assistant principal and a Jewish couple.
Failed mayoral candidate Skiboky Stora, 40, accused of punching TikToker Halley Kate on the streets of New York City, will represent himself at trial after he pleaded not guilty
They asked the judge to increase his bail from $10,000 to $25,000, but this was denied and a restraining order was issued on behalf of the four alleged victims.
TikTok star Kate, 23, recorded herself moments after being punched in the face and pointed to the large ‘devil horn’ sized bump on the left side of her forehead in a video viewed more than 50 million times.
Stora was arrested two days after the incident and linked to a string of other attacks in the city.
He asked to represent himself in the latest hearing and told the court, ‘I don’t want you to violate my rights. A white judge was saying I don’t have the right as a black person to represent myself.’
Justice Drysdale told him he risks conviction as he may not be able to put up an adequate defense, but he said he understood and she ruled he could represent himself.
He appeared in New York Supreme Court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to third degree assault as a hate crime and asked to be allowed to represent himself
Stora allegedly struck social media star Kate in the face as she walked around the Chelsea neighborhood on March 25
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Edward Smith asked for Stora’s bail to be increased to $25,000 as he faces a longer sentence due to the harsher charges.
‘The defendant is charged with a six month pattern of hate crimes between September 2023 and March 2024,’ he said.
‘One of the victims is a white 17-year-old boy who was walking to school and crossed paths with the defendant.
‘He elbowed him in the neck and said you people think you can do whatever the f*** you want.
‘October 26, 2023, the defendant attacked a second victim who was the assistant principal at the school of the first, a fair skinned Hispanic woman.
‘The defendant completely unprovoked, elbowed her in the left shoulder causing bruising.’
The influencer, who has over one million followers on TikTok, said she lost consciousness and fell to the floor after the assault
The prosecutor added that Stora was allegedly tearing down posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages at East 15th Street and Fifth Avenue when a Jewish couple caught him on camera.
‘The wife, a white blonde Jewish woman, took a photo and continued to watch as he tore down more posters,’ Smith said.
‘He noticed them looking and became enraged, following and yelling at them. He zig zagged back and forth, continuing to follow them and shouted “f*** you white boy, do you want to fight”.
‘As the couple hurried into a lobby, the defendant pursued them inside. He said “Die Jews die.”’
He added, ‘March 25, 2024, the last victim, a young white woman, was looking at her phone when the defendant struck her in the head and knocked her down to the ground.’
Stora allegedly shouted ‘watch where you’re going’ during the incident involving TikTok star Kate.
‘Each time the defendant struck he was out on a walk with his black and white dog. He was wearing the same jacket and using the same leash,’ the prosecutor said.
‘Routinely harassing women he does not know and while accosting clearly uncomfortable women, he makes racist and misogynist comments.’
Justice Althea Drysdale warned him he may not be able to prepare a good defense as he lacks the skills of a trained lawyer but he said he understood the risks
Prosecutors claimed Stora had a six-month pattern of hate crimes between September 2023 and March and the victims also included a 17-year-old boy walking to school, an assistant principal and a Jewish couple
Along with regularly running unsuccessfully for public office, the 40-year-old also performs as a rapper under the moniker Designer Attitude
But Stora denied the accusations as ‘lies’ and said: ‘Judge, I think the prosecution is using this bail as a weapon to violate my rights and due process.
‘I have a $10,000 bail, I have nothing to hide. I am just an American citizen who loves my country that came as a refugee.’
He claimed he ripped up the hostage posters because he was cleaning up his community and has never met Kate in his life.
Justice Drysdale denied the request to alter his bail but granted a full order of protection and told Stora to return to court on August 6.
Stora has run for office several times in New York City – including tries for mayor, governor and city council member over the past three years.
Along with regularly running unsuccessfully for public office, he also performs as a rapper under the moniker Designer Attitude.
A slew of other women claimed they have been victims of random violence on Manhattan’s streets.
TikTok personality Mikayla Toninato says she got punched in the face when she was walking home from class, in a video that has gained 7.4 million views.
Toninato said she was looking at her phone and texting as a man came out of nowhere and hit her in the face.
‘I don’t know if this is a thing that’s going around,’ Toninato said – referencing Halley Kate’s similar story.
She warned her followers to not walk around on their phones and be ‘super aware’ of their surroundings.
Mallik Miah, 30, was arrested in March and charged with allegedly assaulting 27-year-old Toninato in Greenwich Village in a broad daylight attack.
