Police probe possible connection between hit-and-run, assault trial

Authorities were trying to determine whether Sunday's hit-and-run accident that critically injured two boys in East Frankford could be witness intimidation involving an assault case that was scheduled for court Monday.

One of the two boys injured was to testify at a preliminary hearing, but that hearing was postponed until October.

"Are they related or connected?" asked Lt. Frank Vanore of the Public Affairs Unit. Investigators "are working that angle."

Authorities said they are concerned about the juxtaposition of events, but they have not linked the assault and the hit-and-run beyond coincidence.

Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, declined to comment on the cases, citing the investigation.

Meanwhile, Tychi Spain, 6, of Kensington, and his older cousin, Reginald "Reese" Brown, 14, of East Frankford, remained at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children with injuries from the hit-and-run on the 4900 block of of Torresdale Avenue.

About 4 p.m., Tychi apparently darted into the street and Reese ran to catch him. One car stopped when the boys got into street, but the driver of a Honda Civic sped around the stopped vehicle and ran into the boys.

Tychi yesterday remained in critical condition with head injuries, and Reese was in serious condition. Their families declined to comment.

Police said the 28-year-old defendant in the assault case, Robert Junious, has a criminal history that includes guilty pleas to aggravated assault, witness intimidation, and criminal conspiracy in 1999, when he was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in prison. The defendant is currently in jail and, therefore, could not have been the hit-and-run driver.

On Monday night, however, the defendant's 33-year-old brother, Mahil Junious, was charged with witness intimidation after allegedly threatening Reese's family, telling them not to cooperate with authorities.

Police said Mahil Junious was not the hit-and-run driver, and they were still looking for that man - who witnesses described as white or Latino, about 20 years old with chin hair.

The 1991 Honda Civic DX was light blue or bluish-green four-door with a square trunk, and Pennsylvania tag of GLV-5477 and the vehicle identification number of 1HGED3541ML038446.

The vehicle may have front-end damage on the passenger side and was last seen going north on Torresdale from Wakeling Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Accident Investigation District at 215-686-3180.