October 7, 2007
Justice! John Fox Convicted in Michael Sandy Murder
Conviction in Death of Gay Man in Traffic
For his role in selecting a gay man as a robbery target and chasing him to his death in traffic, a Brooklyn man was convicted yesterday of manslaughter and attempted robbery as hate crimes, but acquitted of murder.
The convicted man, John Fox, 20, bowed his head for a moment after the verdict was read in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, then gave his father a solemn wink as he was led away. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 24.
. . .
A separate jury deliberating the same charges against Mr. Fox’s co-defendant, Anthony Fortunato, 21, retired for the weekend yesterday without reaching a verdict.
. . .
Prosecutors charged Mr. Fox, Mr. Fortunato and a third man, Ilya Shurov, 21, with murder as a hate crime, a distinction that can extend sentences. By the prosecution’s theory, the men had selected Mr. Sandy for robbery because they believed that a gay man would put up little resistance and would hesitate to report the crime. …
Now it’s Fortunato’s turn.
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Filed Under: Hate Crimes, New York
