September 28, 2007
Gay-Bash Trial in New Hampshire
From WMUR:
Prosecutors Say Man Beaten For Being Gay
John Lavasser, of Colebrook, said that he was targeted by two men in July because he is gay. He said he didn’t know his attackers, but he believes they knew him. He grew up in Colebrook, and he said people in the community know he is gay.
. . .
Prosecutors said Lavasser was beaten in his car by Sheane Eldritch, 23, and Thomas Baker, 20.
“As they were walking away, witnesses heard them bragging about it, saying, ‘I’m gonna kill that fag,’” Coos County Assistant Attorney Keith Clouatre said.
. . .
Lavasser’s partner, Ron Sayres, arrived moments after the men fled and said he was stunned by what he saw. …
. . .
New Hampshire does not have a specific hate crime law, but when police believe that a crime was motivated by hate, a statute allows for more severe punishment in the form of extra jail time.
Filed under: Hate Crimes
