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Man charged with murder in Chinatown beating death

Police arrested a 35-year-old homeless man and he was charged with second-degree murder Thursday for the beating death of another homeless man  in Chinatown two weeks ago.

Michael Abella allegedly punched a 57-year-old man multiple times on July 17 on Smith Street. 

His bail was set at $200,000.

The 57-year-old victim died Tuesday at a hospital, where he been hospitalized since the beating. The Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet identified the victim.

Paramedics treated the man at 8:45 p.m. July 17 on Smith Street for a small cut to his head. However, the patient refused to be taken to the hospital, Emergency Medical Service reported.

Paramedics were called back to the same Smith Street location an hour later when the victim said he had been punched multiple times and had more intensive injuries, EMS said. An ambulance took the man to the hospital in serious condition.

The suspect was orignally arrested July 17 on suspicion of third-degree assault at Bishop and Beretania streets. He was released without charges for assault, but rearrested Thursday near Thomas Square on the murder charge.

Police reclassified the case as a second-degree murder investigation after the victim died.

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