Three Charged With Stabbing, Burning Gay Man In Texas

[NorthCarolina]

26-year-old Burke Bennett received 30 stitches to close stab wounds on his back and forearms inflicted by a broken beer bottle, reports the Dallas Voice, as well as second-degree burns and severe bruises after being assaulted at a private party on Sunday.

The attackers reportedly screamed slurs like "pussy-ass faggot," "gay bitch," and "cock-sucking punk," as they punched, stabbed, and eventually threw Burke onto a fire.



<snip>

But, though Burnett said the officer who investigated the assault told him the attack would be deemed a hate crime, it looks as though it may not be classified as such after all.

Both perpetrators are being charged with one count of aggravated assault with a a deadly weapon, and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury -- first-degree felonies punishable by five to 99 years in prison the Dallas Voice notes.

Because there is no further penalty for a crime already labeled a first-degree felony if it's also designated a hate crime, it looks doubtful that prosecutors will pursue that route.

<snip>

The charges are second-degree felonies, punishable by up 20 years in prison, and not first-degree felonies as previously reported.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/daniel-martin-james-laster-charged-stabbing-burning-gay-man_n_1071820.html

Can we give Texas back to Mexico please?

[Ilsa]

1. Well, technically, the US didn't get Texas from Mexico.

It was an independent nation when it joined the US.

Texas needs a strong infusion of Liberals and not just in Austin and Houston. We need more democrats all over the state so we can retake the Legislature and go Blue in 2012.

And it needs more decent people who are tolerant of GLBT. It's getting better, but the rednecks are still the majority here.

[cutlassmama]

2. Since they burned his private parts and called him slurs I don't see

how it can't be construed as a "hate crime". It's overt homophobia.

[Aerows]

3. I knew a young man in Houston back in the 90's that got bashed

It doesn't mean that everyone in Texas is bad, it just means that many are.

On the other hand, I was in the Bourbon Street Pub in New Orleans, and a guy came driving by screaming "Faggot". A bartender jumped the bar (he was built like a Colossus) snatched him straight out of the truck through the window, proceeded to beat the shit out of him, and then stuffed him back through the truck window.

That idiot drove away, barely, and I dare say never got the nerve to attack lesbians and gay men in New Orleans again. I'm not passing judgment on the bartender. They (and me as a lesbian) had been harassed to hell and back and this man got enough of it.

[BlueIris]

4. Poor guy.

May the animals who did this to him get to see as many years in jail as humanly possible.

[madrchsod]

5. not quite as bad as this but.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=188821&mesg_id=188821

getting ever so close...