ORLANDO, Fla. – The brother of a man charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of a downtown Orlando bouncer came forward Tuesday and said he is responsible for the man's death, not his brother.
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Milton Torres, a bouncer at The Lodge on Orange Avenue, was stabbed in the chest and killed during a fight with Eric Sandhaus, 24, and his brother, Craig Sandhaus, 27, early Saturday morning, police said.
Eric Sandhaus has been charged with second-degree murder, but Craig Sandhaus and his attorney held a news conference Tuesday afternoon saying the wrong man is in jail.
"Eric Sandhaus sits in the jail and he is innocent. He didn't do any stabbing," attorney Eric Schwartzreich said.
Schwartzreich said Craig Sandhouse was defending his brother, who was being beaten in an alley behind the bar.
"He didn't want anyone to die. It was just to protect his brother," Schwartzreich said.
"I was scared. Scared for myself, and my family, and my brother. I was just protecting my brother, and I was so scared for other families, especially the day before Mother's Day. I'm so sorry," Craig Sandhaus said.
Craig Sandhaus said a man with whom he had a previous fight came to the bar despite a no-contact order with him, and his friendship with employees at the bar led up to the fight.
"He felt like he had no choice. What he did was out of self-defense. His brother was getting beat up," Schwartzreich said.
"There's nothing I can say that can make him come back. I'm sure he was a great kid. I did not mean for this to happen," Craig Sandhaus said.
Schwartzreich walked Craig Sandhaus into the Orlando Police Department after the news conference. He was already charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing.
Schwartzreich said police told them they need to review more evidence before deciding if they will arrest Craig Sandhaus on additional charges.
Orlando police did not immediately return our emails or calls Tuesday.