2 found guilty of hate crimes related to death of immigrant

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

Two men on trial in a Pennsylvania federal court in connection with the beating death of an undocumented Mexican immigrant have been found guilty on all counts, including hate crimes.

Derrick M. Donchak, 20, of Shenandoah, and Brandon J. Piekarsky, 18, of Shenandoah Heights, had previously been acquitted of murder charges in state court and convicted of simple assault.

But Donchak and Piekarsky were charged in federal court with hate crimes and depriving Luis Ramirez of his civil rights. Donchak also was accused of trying to cover up the July 12, 2008, crime.

"Four people attacked one person because of his race and because they didn't want people like him living in their town," prosecutor Myesha K. Braden said during her closing argument.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/14/pennsylvania.hate.crime/index.html?hpt=T1

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Good - glad they didn't get away with this.

[southmost]

1. great news, now we just need to extend hate crime bills

to protect the GLBT also

[demosincebirth]

2. they ought to lock 'em up in the Mexican cell block.

[NashuaDW]

3. why?

Gotta ask ....

Why is a white guy killing a black guy worse than a white guy killing a white guy?

Why is a straight guy killing a gay guy worse than a straight guy killing a straight guy?

I really think we need to punish the crime rather than the motivation.

[mackerel]

4. I doubt there would have been a murder if it wasn't for the

motivation.

[savalez]

5. +1 Precisely.

[Rincewind]

6. A hate crime is

not a white guy killing a black guy, or a straight guy killing a gay guy, it's a white guy killing a black guy BECAUSE he's black, no other reason. Or, a straight guy killing a gay guy BECAUSE he's gay. Hate crime is based on motivation,where someone is targeted because of their race, ethnicity, or sexual preference.

[old mark]

7. Without the hate, there would have been no incident at all - the victim was

walking down the street when the 4 white males verbally confronted him, then attacked him. They deserve all they get, especially since the local police covered up aspects of the crime in the local trial. This is the next county north of my home, and it is famous for racism and intollerance and violence.


mark

[The Magistrate]

8. Motivation Is An Element Of Crime, Sir

Any number of motivations serve as aggravating factors in assessing punishment, just as the absence of certain motivations may serve as mitigation.

[TheMadMonk]

10. Because it is about a white killing black for being black.

It is about straight killing gay for being gay.

The crime is punished. The motivation adds to the punishment.

If I kill my wife's lover in the heat of the moment that's second degree murder. If I beat his address out of her and go after him that's assault with intent AND 1st degree murder. If I wait until after the divorce to kill him on their wedding day THAT'S a hate crime.


BTW just where do YOU stand on the old homophobia copouts that WERE (in the past) used with repeated success as a mittigating factor? "He made me feel uncomfortable." "He made me panic and I didn't know what I was doing." "I couldn't help myself and I just lashed out."

Would your honest answer be acceptable today? Would your honest answer of 10, 15, 20 years ago be acceptable today?

[Heywood J]

9. Ah, I remember this one. Good to hear of the conviction, since they dodged murder.

Two guys named Donchak and Piekarsky beating an immigrant - the irony was lost on them.