Chain-saw victim forgives attacker

NEW YORK - A postal worker who was attacked by a man with a power saw at a subway station told a court that he forgave his assailant, because it was the right thing to do.

"I forgive Mr. Williams," Michael Steinberg said of Tareyton Williams, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Wednesday for the attack. "I want him to be aware of that. He must have major problems in his life."

Steinberg quickly added, "I don't forgive the transit authority."

He said city transit employees watched and never tried to help him during the attack. He said that they had allowed Williams to grab their equipment and that "they should be on trial as accomplices to what he did."

The attack occurred July 7, 2006, shortly after 2 a.m., when Steinberg was on his way to work.

Williams carved through three of Steinberg's ribs, punctured his lungs and stopped cutting about 3 inches from his heart without saying a word, Steinberg said. Williams then took his money and credit cards "and he left me to die," he said. *