Prosecutors are pushing for at least 10 years in prison — and as much as a life sentence — for a former Manhattan neurologist
at his Beth Israel Medical Center practice.
Ricardo Cruciani, who is accused of attacking an additional 11 women at his doctor’s offices in Philadelphia and Jersey, learned of the prosecutors’ demands on Friday in Manhattan Supreme Court.
His still-loyal wife, a pediatrician, held his hand as they left the courtroom after a routine, pre-trial appearance. Neither would comment to a reporter.
Cruciani’s lawyer, Mark L. Furman, declined to discuss the status of the case except to say that there are still “a lot of issues that need to be dealt with for the purpose of going to trial.”
His accusers, who range in age from 31 to 55, have told AP that they suffered the abuse — often returning for additional appointments — because he was a renowned doctor who specialized in their rare, complicated syndromes.
