Update:Three Arrested In Reno Texas Attack
November 3, 2011 1 Comment
Three men face aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury charges after allegedly attacking a gay man during a party last weekend.
The Dallas Voice reports that,”Micky Joe Smith, 25, Daniel Martin, 33, and James “Tray” Mitchell Laster III, 31, were arrested late Tuesday in the beating of 26-year-old Burke Burnett. Burnett was stabbed at least twice with a broken beer bottle and thrown onto a fire at a private party early Sunday, by up to four men who yelled gay slurs during the attack.”
As the Idaho Agenda reported earlier this week, Burke Burnett told the Dallas Voice that, “His attackers yelled things like “pussy-ass faggot,” “gay bitch” and “cock-sucking punk.”
“Lamar County District Attorney Gary Young, whose office is handling the cases, said it will be up to a grand jury to decide whether they are prosecuted as hate crimes. Under Texas law, a hate crime enhancement could result in the charges being bumped up from second-degree felonies to first-degree felonies — punishable by five to 99 years in prison,” reported the Voice on Wednesday.
So far no word on the fourth suspect.
(Editor’s note: If ever there was a reason for hate crimes laws I can’t think of a better case to use them. Lets hope the grand jury makes the right decision and charges these men with the full extent of the law.-JT)
What a disgusting crime. It is excellent news that police have taken this seriously enough to investigate it and capture those allegedly responsible. So far as the hate crime loading is concerned, I too hope that the jury will agree this falls well within its parameters. Since it’s unlikely this attack would have been committed if the victim had been heterosexual, it is hard to see how any other conclusion could be reached.