Son accused of attempted murder admits he beat his father up to 12 times in Staten Island

A man accused of trying to murder his father told investigators he hit the elderly victim more than a dozen times after breaking into a Staten Island home, court documents show.

“If I had to count, I hit him between eight and 12 times,” Albert Duka told investigators after his arrest Wednesday.

Duka, 33, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday to charges of attempted murder, assault and burglary for the attack that left his 62-year-old father, Adzi Duka, with a fractured skull and bleeding ears.

It was unclear what triggered Duka's violent attack on his father.

According to the Richmond County Prosecutor's Office, Judge John McPadden ordered the defendant held at $300,000 bail or $700,000 bond.

The younger Duka broke the door of a house on Scott Ave. near Quintard St in Arrochar – causing the frame to crack and splinter – and punched his father repeatedly in the face just after 9pm on Wednesday, police said.

The attack caused the suspect's father to fall to the ground, where his son continued to beat him, hitting his head repeatedly on the ground, court documents show.

At one point, the defendant screamed and chased relatives who sought refuge behind a door that the suspect attempted to destroy but failed, according to documents.

“I broke down the front door, but I couldn’t get through the second door,” Albert Duka told investigators.

Paramedics took the victim to Staten Island University Hospital North, where he was initially reported to be in critical condition.