A 19-year-old Washington D.C. man is sentenced to 180 days behind bars after the brutal September 2008 beating death of Tony Randolph Hunter, a black gay Maryland man, reports the Washington Post. Last month Robert Hannah plead guilty to one charge of simple assault as part of a plea bargain offered by prosecutors and will get credit for two months served.
Before issuing his sentence, Judge Rafael Diaz acknowledged many of the letters written to the court from gay rights groups and Hunter's family asking Diaz to sentence Hannah to the maximum 180 days. During the hearing, Hannah told Hunter's mother, sister and stepfather—who sat in the front row wiping away tears—that he was sorry, although he never looked at the family and kept his eyes on Diaz.
"We drove 300 miles to see him get six months in jail for killing my son," said Hunter's stepfather, John Yarborough of Franklinton, N.C., Hunter's home town. Hunter's family said they believe more people were involved. "My son was six-foot-three and about 200 pounds and a former army sergeant," Yarborough said. "One punch from that little guy wouldn't have done that. The [prosecutor] didn't press the witnesses. They didn't work hard enough."
Hannah claims he punched Hunter after the gay man grabbed his crotch and butt when the two men crossed paths on a Washington D.C. street.
Hunter fell to the ground, hit his head on the pavement and lingered for ten days in a coma. Hannah was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter. One of Hunter's friends denies the sexual advance. The witness says Hannah and three or four other men attacked them and were unprovoked.
Hunter's family members, D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson and gay activists have been outraged the United States' Attorney Office for the District declined to pursue the original manslaughter charges or murder. The U.S. Attorney's office says the it could not because witness statements were "contradictory".
Four months behind bars for killing a gay man. Why not just a give him a gold star and plaque?
The Background:
"Gay Panic" Killer Pleads Guilty to Simple Assault
Outrage Over 180-Day Maximum Sentence
Killer of Gay MD Man Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor
Fenty to Meet with Activists on Anti-Gay Violence
DC Police Say Fatal Attack Robbery, Not Hate Crime
"Gay Panic" Defense Alleged in Brutal DC Murder
DC Police Make Arrest in Brutal Killing of Gay Man
Fenty to Increase Fight Against Anti-Gay Hate Crimes
a senseless sentence for a senseless crime
my prayers to the family. i hope robert hannah's four months are real hard time, in more ways than one.
Posted by: RD | 14 October 2009 at 17:12
**speechless**
but not very surprised given the amount of intense anti LGBT hate crimes we have seen lately.
Posted by: Face and Waist | 14 October 2009 at 17:29
Once again, gay men continue to be victimized in death as they do in life. The only thing more disturbing than the tragic and vicious assault is the ridiculously light sentence. smh
Posted by: Dallas Cowboy | 14 October 2009 at 17:37
Ugh... Make you just want to go out and beat the hell out someone for being straight.. but what will that prove.
Posted by: justsoukno | 14 October 2009 at 17:49
This is sick. 'Gay Panic' reminds me of a less enlighten time (although it still happens), when a woman would get raped and the first question was "What were you wearing?” As if the victim is to blame for the crime. 'Gay Panic' is a sorry excuse to brutalize someone, and the sad thing is sometimes it still works.
Posted by: Otis | 14 October 2009 at 18:12
Has there been any forensic autopsies been done to confirm/deny the claim of this 19 y/o? It really feels as if no work went into this case to find out what happened, and try in a just manner: a life was taken and no one really cares!!! If that is the way the justice system has become on these cases, why not allow the family of the murdered bring guns into the courtroom, if they so choose? At least a reasonable decision could be made if a family member felt like killing him.
I have NO sympathy for this guy if in the next 180 he is gang raped, beaten, or murdered.
Posted by: CC | 14 October 2009 at 18:22
>>>>"Hunter's family members, D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) and gay activists have been outraged the United States' Attorney Office for the District declined to pursue the original manslaughter charges or murder."
Except for the thousands of black gays in DC. They're fine with the misdemeanor charges and 6 months given to this thug who killed one of their own. Just stop interrupting their circuit weekends an parties with this "news"!
Posted by: Dalton | 14 October 2009 at 18:28
Just sickening. But no surprise since we were already prepared for this a couple of months ago. The prosecution is responsible for this travesty. They just wanted this case over with. I guess it wasn't glamorous enough for them. The US Attorney's Office for DC needs to clean house, and the judge needs to be removed from the bench. The only way to prevent this from happening again is for heads to roll. Otherwise, it's the SOS.
Posted by: Ravenback | 14 October 2009 at 18:30
My mouth is wide open. You have got to be kidding me, 180 days for taking a life?? I try not to jump into the race stuff, but, I wonder if this had been one of the well to do Dupont Circle gays and this same KILLER had KILLED him if this slap on the hand sentence would have been given??
And, why aren't the black gays in DC and the metro area and all people of good will not in the streets over this travesty??
I for one am so sick and tired of this and still NO LAWS to protect us, totally disgusted. And, if you are black and gay and a victim of a violent gay bashing, you will get just what Mr Hunter got, and it isn't justice.
Posted by: Luther | 14 October 2009 at 18:52
... and still silence from the DC gay niggeratti. probably still burning up the phone lines over the "trade" they met at halo on sunday! TRUST!
Posted by: Faison | 14 October 2009 at 19:20
Welp...If a guy wants to kill me, all he has to do is say I touched his butt. Four months in the slammer and then he can go find another gay man to harass. I love America.
Posted by: mellovirgo89 | 14 October 2009 at 20:51
This kind of makes me want to throw up.
justsoukno writes: Make you just want to go out and beat the hell out someone for being straight.. but what will that prove?
Obviously, killing a random straight person is morally indefensible. On the other hand, the beating up of a pastor who preaches hatred from the pulpit would be a richly deserved punishment. But it is totally counter-productive. It just makes a martyr out of an evil person.
I think we should start robbing the pastors of their jewelry. You know—all the diamonds and gold that Jesus bought them? With the proceeds, we could create a relief fund for the victims of hate crimes, while at the same time giving the pastors self-esteem issues.
Posted by: Jim | 15 October 2009 at 00:26
Talk about a miscarriage of justice! The whole panic defense to me is reprehensible. 180 days for taking a life.... RIDICULOUS!
Posted by: Isis | 15 October 2009 at 04:04
A life was taken. Unfortunately that life was both GAY & BLACK. He was no Matthew Shepherd. His family should not let this injustice go undone.
Posted by: Doug Cooper Spencer | 15 October 2009 at 14:54
Random at this stage; but it's so sad to see a black man murder another for something so senseless in times we're living in. Makes me think he's either a sociopath or without any clue. I'm sure,or hope rather, that with time he'll come to his senses and realized what he's done.
Posted by: tete | 16 October 2009 at 22:14