movieguy Posted August 31, 2006 Report Posted August 31, 2006 Three Charged In Connecticut Homophobic Hate Crime by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff August 29, 2006 - 9:00 pm ET (Stamford, Connecticut) Three men have been charged with hate crimes in the beatings of a group of men in a downtown parking garage that left one victim with a broken jaw and three others with lesser injuries. Police say the trio yelled homophobic slurs at the victims as they beat them. The attack began on the street in front of the garage when one of the victims yelled at the driver of a car to slow down. The assailants stopped the car, got out and followed the victims to the second floor of the garage where the proceeded to beat them. When one of the victims fell to the ground the trio stomped on his face, breaking his jaw. The victims' names have not been released. Police said that the attack appeared to be random - neither the victims nor the assailants know one another. Police also say they do not know if the victims are gay. Under Connecticut's hate crime law it is enough to lay a charge if someone believes his victim is gay. The law defines a bias crime as any attempt to intimidate or harass another person because of the victim's "actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." Following the attack the trio returned to their car and drove off. The victims were able to provide police with a description of the men and the vehicle. It was stopped a short time later and the the three were arrested. A search of the car revealed about $6,000 in cash and four pills that police said appeared to be ecstasy. They also found a small bag of white powder in the pocket of one of the suspects. If convicted the three could face prison terms up to ten years. ©365Gay.com 2006 links
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