(09/16/06) THE BRONX - The district attorney charged a mother Friday with inciting the fight that left her son in a coma.

Evelyn Cruz disputes the claim that she instigated the brawl, saying that she and her family were victims. The DA, however, dropped the charges for the two Mount St. Michael Academy students originally thought to have started the confrontation this past spring. Cruz says that the pair repeatedly bullied her son Eric and told him they would be waiting for him under the Number 4 train platform. She says she took the initiative to bring her family down there just to talk to them.

If convicted, Evelyn Cruz faces up to two years in prison. She pleaded not guilty Friday after voluntarily surrendering to police.