The deranged ex-Broadway dancer accused of shoving a retired Big Apple teacher to his death was indicted for murder Thursday night — hours after he flashed another carefree grin inside a Manhattan courtroom.
Rhamell Burke, 32, cracked an ear-to-ear smile during a brief appearance Thursday as he faces decades behind bars for allegedly pushing retired Big Apple teacher Ross Falzone down a staircase and to his death at a Chelsea subway station on May 7.
The serial troublemaker made a brief appearance Thursday morning – his first since he was arraigned last week — before prosecutors later announced a murder indictment against him was secured from a grand jury during another appearance that evening.
Burke was cut loose from a psych ward at Bellevue Hospital about an hour after cops checked him in as an “emotionally disturbed person” – leading up to the fatal shove later the same day.
The repeat offender once had a bright dancing career – and even performed on Broadway for a short time – before his downfall began around the COVID pandemic shutdown, a friend previously said.
Falzone, the 76-year-old victim, was remembered as a kind neighbor who loved attending live performances at Lincoln Center.
When Burke first appeared in court last Saturday, he flashed a disturbing toothy grin as the judge remanded him behind bars, deeming him a flight risk.
He’s expected to be in court again on June 17 to be arraigned on the murder indictment.