The man accused of killing a young mother in front of her 7-year-old daughter — then leaving the terrified child alone with her mother’s body — asked a Manhattan judge Sunday to place him in protective custody.
Prosecutors and relatives of 27-year-old Lovay Williams allege that Tiliek Shamel Thompson, 41, beat her to death inside her Washington Heights home while her child was there. They said he later removed potential evidence in blue shopping bags and cut his hair in an apparent attempt to avoid being recognized.
“Give him the gas chamber!” Williams’ father, Nuquan Williams, shouted toward Judge Linda Capitti as Thompson was arraigned.
Thompson was remanded without bail on charges that include murder and strangulation in connection with the Sept. 6 killing at Williams’ Washington Heights apartment.
His attorney, Neville “Nod” Mitchell, said Thompson surrendered to police Saturday after receiving multiple threats. Mitchell asked the court to ensure his client would receive protective measures while incarcerated.
“I would ask for protective services,” Mitchell said, adding that Thompson had told him he “has a psych diagnosis.”
Outside the courtroom, Williams’ aunt, Missy Wright, angrily challenged the request for special protection.
“How dare you ask for protected custody,” Wright said. “How dare you ask the courts to protect you.”
Williams’ cousin, Lexus Singleton, said the defense’s comments added to the family’s anguish.
“It’s just very frustrating,” Singleton said. “His lawyer tried to make him like he was an angel, and it was a slap in the face to the family. But one thing I will say, we will get justice, and we have strong evidence on this case. So he will not get away with this.”
Thompson was granted protection in jail.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Michael Perez said surveillance video captured Thompson entering the apartment Sept. 5 and leaving the next day after making two trips to retrieve items from the apartment, carting them off in “distinct” blue shopping bags.
Mitchell suggested at one point that someone else could have come and gone from the crime scene by a window.
RELATED: Husband Dies in ‘Internal Decapitation’ Crash After Anniversary Dinner
“What the f–k?” a family member said.
After allegedly killing Williams, Thompson went on the run.
Thompson was charged after turning himself in at the 33rd Precinct stationhouse on Saturday.
“The heat was on and either way he was gonna get caught,” Williams’ dad told The Post earlier Sunday. “He had no choice but to turn himself in. The streets were looking for him.
Law enforcement was looking for him, and he knew he had to do the right thing by turning himself in to face what he did, because he knew he was wrong.”
Singleton said Thompson cut his hair after the incident to throw cops off his trail.
Mitchell urged people Sunday to withhold judgment.
“I’m just asking people to let the process play out,” he said. “And whatever my client is charged with and found guilty or not guilty of it, you know, we’re here to adjudicate that specifically with respect to my client.”
Williams’ sister, Asia Walker, said the family had known Thompson for some time.
“It’s confusing to me because we knew this man for too long,” she said.
“I don’t even know what caused this. I can’t remember her saying they even argued before.”
Lovay’s mom, Moinica Manners, said Sunday that her granddaughter is “holding up the best that a 7-year-old that witnessed such a heinous crime could.”
Thompson is due back in court Friday.