New York fishmonger says hand-to-hand fight could have been avoided if victim hadn’t “stealed”

A Harlem fishmonger who was beaten in a fatal hand-to-hand fight over shrimp at a Manhattan fish market said the horrific episode could have been avoided.

“I saw what he did. He stole. If he hadn’t been stealing, none of this would have happened,” wounded worker Francisco Morales told The Post of a man accused of trying to rob a store.

Morales, 38, was hurt during the chaos at the Fish Express fish store Tuesday when Robert “Bobby” Burrell and his brother Malik allegedly entered the store to steal shrimp and started attacking him.

Another worker, Junior Hernandez, intervened and ended up stabbing the Burrell brothers, killing 25-year-old Malik, authorities said.

Hernandez was initially charged with murder, but the charges were quickly reduced to assault. The move echoes the case of wine cellar worker José Alba, who fatally stabbed a former prisoner who attacked him in Hamilton Heights in July and was initially charged with murder.

Bobby Burrell, 29, who was injured when Hernandez came to Morales’ aid, was charged with burglary and stood trial in his bed at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan Friday night.

“I want him to go to jail. He came to fight,” Morales said.

The Manhattan prosecutor’s office asked to release Bobby on bail when he was released from the hospital.

Hernandez expressed remorse for the fateful meeting.

“I feel bad about this case, because this guy also has a family. I feel good with my family, but I still feel depressed that someone has passed away. I’m not proud of what I did – 100%. I think about it all the time,” he told The Post.

Hernandez’s wife said, “A dark cloud still hangs over our heads,” and she will not rest until her husband is completely cleansed.

“I want the rest of the charges dropped. It was self defense and I hope they [the District Attorney’s office] I think so too,” said Estefani Reyes. “No one should go through this while they are at work where they should feel safe.”