The short version: A 22-year-old Tennessean named Steven Scarborough beat 62-year-old Victor Manious to death with a baseball bat, then, with his friend Justin Robinson, stuffed Manious — still alive — in the trunk of Manious’ car, and left Manious to die while parked on a city street.
Scarborough’s defense: Perp and victim scuffled, Manious knocked out Scarborough, and when Scarborough came to, he discovered Manious “sexually assaulting” him. So he killed him.
Like we haven’t heard that one before.
And then, of course, because he was ever-so-remorseful (do we need to use a “sarcasm” emoticon here?), Scarborough used his victim’s credit cards and took a flight to Texas.
Scarborough was charged with felony murder and faced mandatory life in prison without parole. The verdict — from a jury whose brains must be lodged permanently up their asses — was voluntary manslaughter.
The maximum prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter is 15 years.
As if it couldn’t get any worse, the jury actually considered acquitting Scarborough.
Are there not twelve sane people in Grand Rapids? If so, not a one was on that jury.
More details — read ‘em and weep:
Upon hearing the verdict, Scarborough hugged his lawyer, Paul Denenfeld, and smiled. His mother, Veronica Hand, in court with her husband, Michael, wept.
Grand Rapids Police Detective Kristen Rogers, who interviewed Scarborough once he was apprehended, put her head in her hands.
Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Helen Brinkman said she would tell the Manious family she did her best. …
About two hours earlier before the verdict was reached, jurors had asked for information regarding acquittal. …
After the verdict Scarborough’s stepfather, Michael Hand, said, “I’m just sorry any of this happened.”
Though Manious was still alive, Scarborough and Robinson then dumped him into the trunk of his own car, after which Scarborough drove Manious’ car to an isolated spot with Robinson accompanying him in another vehicle. Scarborough then joined Robnson, and the two drove away, leaving Manious trapped in the trunk, where he died. …
It is the defense’s contention that throwing Manious into the car trunk and then abandoning him, plus Scarborough’s fleeing to a Texas town, were at the suggestion of Robinson, whom the defense have characterized as more a “mastermind” in the events than Scarborough.
It was Robinson who then tipped off police, saying that he had noticed a man’s name on a credit card that Scarborough subsequently used for a shopping spree. Robinson reportedly claimed that he became suspicious because Scarborough had told him that the card belonged to a girlfriend. …
The incident took place last July; the trial commenced two weeks ago, and in that time, the family of the slain businessman and church leader, who was 62, have heard what they consider to be incredible stories of Manious’ so-called gay double life. …
Soheir Manious’ brother, John Fahd, also shook off allegations that Manious, an immigrant from Egypt who arrived in the U.S. thirty years ago, was leading a double life, noting that the slain man was a church leader for local Coptic Christians. …
Helen Brinkman, the assistant prosecutor for Kent County, told the jury that luring gay men to their apartment and then robbing them was a modus operandi for Scarborough and Robinson. Brinkman’s sequence of events portrayed the two as selecting Manious as their next victim based on their perception that he was foreign and wealthy. …
“A really arduous process. It was tough,” [one of the jurors] said of the deliberations. “The major focus was on the possibility of a sexual assault” of Scarborough on Manious.
He added such an assault was never proved or disproved.
“…if he (Scarborough) felt he was being violated, he was someone in an emotional state. He just lost it, overreached in the amount of force he used in reacting to sexual abuse. A lot of us said, ‘If it were us, what would we have done?’ I feel relief we reached a decision even though in the beginning I thought there could have been a more severe verdict. In the end, we came up with the best we could. I feel just awful for Victor’s family.” …
So you take the word of a confessed murderer, and decide that maybe, just maybe, if it happened the way this scumbag says it did, that makes it OK to bludgeon another human being to death?
The jury is as sick as the killer. May the lot of them lose sleep every night for the rest of their lives over their unforgivable decision.
The only thing that got raped in this case was justice.
While I knew a number of LGBTs had been the victims of hate-crimes this year, I didn’t realize it was this bad.
One every eight days so far this year–that we know of. Who knows how many are not reported as hate-crimes because they are not recognized as such or because reporting of GLBT hate crimes is not mandated by law in the victim’s area?
We must fight harder to stop the bigotry that leads to these heinous crimes, to secure federal hate-crimes protection, and ensure the safety of LGBT people nationwide. One (or more) every eight days is far too many.
The incident occurred Sunday morning outside The Floridian at 1410 E. Las Olas Blvd.
The couple and a friend sat down to breakfast about 3 a.m. at an outdoor table. They ordered sandwiches, tea and juices.
A man got out of his pickup truck, walked by them and promptly began yelling slurs at the trio — Melbourne Brunner, his partner Mitchell Mart and a friend visiting from out of town.
“He was yelling, ‘Faggot, were you looking at me, if you were, I’m going to come back there and break your neck. That’s what I do to faggots’ and then he twisted his hands together,” Mart recalled.
. . .
The men started to get into their car, which was parked two feet from the table, when the pickup driver said, “‘That’s what faggots do, they run,’” Mart said.
As Brunner tried to climb into the passenger seat, the man punched him several times, pushing the car door on him. Brunner fell to the ground, striking his head.
. . .
The man ripped off his shirt and threw it over [his license plate] as he yelled, “I’ll kill you before you get my tag number!”
. . .
Brunner suffered severe bruising, which has spread, Mart said Tuesday afternoon as they prepared for another doctor visit. Brunner did not suffer any broken bones. “His jaw is out of wack,” said Mart, a retired dentist.
“Everyone was just sort of in shock. We were traumatized,” he said.
. . .
Police are treating the incident as a battery and looking into the possibility that it may have been a hate crime.
. . .
Fort Lauderdale, known for being one of the most gay-friendly communities in the country, has had an increasing number of violent acts committed against members of the gay community in the last year.
That coupled with controversial comments from long-time Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. …
. . .
…[L]ately there have been the violent overshadows: just last week, Simmie Williams, a 17-year-old boy, was murdered at the corner of Sistrunk Boulevard and 10th Avenue. He was wearing women’s clothes. …
“Police are treating the incident as a battery and looking into the possibility that it may have been a hate crime”?!
Just how many times does the perp have to use the word “faggot” in the same breath as a direct threat before it’s officially a hate crime?
California teen fatally shotover sexual orientation and gender expression
WASHINGTON–A coalition of GLBT organizations led by GLSEN, including the Human Rights Campaign, will host a candlelight vigil on Monday, February 25th in memory of Lawrence King, the California teenager who was fatally shot February 12th by a classmate. The vigil’s purpose is to call for an end to violence and harassment directed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in schools. Attendees are asked to gather at 6:00 p.m. in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
WHAT: Candlelight vigil in memory of Lawrence King
WHO: Cosponsored by: GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, SMYAL, Allied in Pride at George Washington University, GLSEN Northern Virginia, DC Trans Coalition, Alliance for Justice, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, Gender PAC, GLSEN Baltimore, American University Queers And Allies, Advocates For Youth, DC’s Youth Pride Alliance, ACLU, ACLU-National Capitol Area, National Center for Transgender Equality, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, DC Coalition of Black Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Men and Women.
WHEN: Gather at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25.
Program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy and public education work, student organizing programs, research or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.
A mutilated body found in an abbey graveyard has been identified as that of a notorious medieval villain rumoured to have been the gay lover of Edward II.
The remains, which bear the hallmarks of having been hanged, drawn and quartered, are thought to be those of Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger, who was executed as a traitor in 1326.
Sir Hugh had been favourite of Edward II - who was widely believed to have been homosexual - but was brutally executed before a mob after the king was ousted from the throne.
. . .
Sir Hugh insinuated himself into the king’s favour by backing him in his battles with the barons. Through a series of ruthless deals, he consolidated a huge fortune, winning himself a legion of enemies in the process, including Edward’s wife, Queen Isabella.
His downfall came when the queen and her ally, Roger Mortimer, deposed the king in 1326.
Sir Hugh was judged a traitor and a thief. He was hanged and, still conscious, castrated, disembowelled and then quartered before his head was displayed on London Bridge.
[Mary Lewis], a biological anthropologist at the University of Reading, found that the Staffordshire skeleton had been beheaded and chopped into several pieces with a sharp blade, suggesting a ritual killing.
There was also evidence of a stab wound to the stomach.
She said: “This form of public execution was high theatre that aimed to demonstrate the power of government to the masses. High treason dictated that the perpetrator should suffer more than one death.” …
Los Angeles, February 15, 2008 — Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, Calif., died after he was shot February 12 by a classmate in what prosecutors have identified as a premeditated hate crime based on King’s perceived sexual orientation. The Los Angeles Times spoke to students who identified King as being gay.
King was shot in the head by 14-year-old Brandon McInterney, who was allegedly part of a group of students that regularly bullied King. King, who was being kept alive for organ donation, died Thursday night after being taken off a ventilator. Classmates said King had been harassed for wearing makeup and jewelry. King was in foster care at Casa Pacifica, a shelter for abused and troubled children in Camarillo.
“This senseless act of violence is deeply disturbing and a reminder of the climate of harassment, bullying and violence that so many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students face across the country.” said Neil Giuliano, President of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “It is imperative that the media shine a spotlight on bullying, violence and hate crimes based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Calling attention to such issues is critical if we are to address the hostile and sometimes dangerous environment that LGBT students face all too often.”
Based on percentages from the 2001 California Healthy Kids Survey, more than 200,000 California students are harassed because they are gay or lesbian, or are perceived to be. The same survey indicated that one-third of students in 7th, 9th and 11th grade report having been harassed or bullied based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. The same survey shows that students who face this kind of harassment are more likely to miss school.
GLAAD is urging the media to address the issues of hate crimes against the LGBT community and LGBT student bullying in their coverage of this tragic story and to consult with leading student health authorities as other authorities on this kind of bullying and harassment.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
14-year-old Attacker to be Charged with Murder, Hate Crime
NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2008 – Ten years after Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered because of his sexual orientation, a 15-year-old gay California student is brain dead after a student allegedly shot him because of his sexual orientation and gender expression.
Lawrence King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, was being kept alive today for organ donation after being shot Tuesday morning in class. The 14-year-old attacker, among a group of students known to bully and harass King because he sometimes wore makeup and jewelry and told classmates he was gay, will be charged with murder and a hate crime.
“This incident of senseless violence is truly horrifying, and our hearts go out to the student’s friends, family and the E.O. Green School community,” said Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. “As a nation, we’ve had our heads in the sand for far too long. We need to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again.
“In doing so, it’s absolutely crucial that we name the problem of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment and address it directly to find a solution to the everyday fear that keeps countless youth from feeling safe in school. We must confront the fact that LGBT students are much more likely to be threatened with a weapon and much more likely to feel unsafe at school than other students.”
The California Healthy Kids Survey for the California Department of Education found that California students who were harassed because they are, or are perceived to be, gay or lesbian were more than five times more likely than other students to report being threatened or injured with a weapon (28% to 5%).
“I am deeply saddened by the terrible news about the shooting of Lawrence King. My prayers go out to all of Lawrence’s friends and family,” said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. “This terrible incident underscores the fact that we cannot let hate go unchecked in our schools and communities. Our young people need our direction and guidance to prevent this type of crime from happening. I urge all parents and teachers to educate their children and students about acceptance, understanding and compassion.”
Two of the top three reasons students say their peers are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 Harris Interactive report commissioned by GLSEN. The top reason is physical appearance.
As was the case at E.O. Green Junior High, what begins as bullying and harassment too often escalates to violence. In GLSEN’s 2005 National School Climate Survey, nearly a fifth (17.6%) of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted at school in the past school year because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth (11.8%) because of their gender expression.
California is one of only 10 states that protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and one of only five that protect students from bullying and harassment based on gender identity/expression.
“Safe schools laws and policies are vitally important, but simply having a law is not enough,” Jennings said. “Schools need to implement staff development and trainings to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. Schools also need programs that teach young people respect and tolerance. Every student deserves to feel safe in school. We must take action and take responsibility for our inaction.”
Another crucial intervention to protect students and all Americans is to pass the Matthew Shepard Act as an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of violent hate crimes committed against individuals based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.
About GLSEN
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs, research, public education or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.
