New York – Today, Judge Jill Konviser-Levine of New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn denied bail to Anthony Fortunato, one of the three remaining defendants facing trial in the October murder of Michael Sandy.
Fortunato's family had raised $1.3 million in the event that bail would be granted.
In a letter sent to the court in January, Clarence Patton, the Anti-Violence Project's Executive Director stated, "As demonstrated in the case of other defendants Esat Bici in Queens and Alex Kelly in Connecticut when defendants are young, facing a long sentence, and have families with relatively significant resources, there is a disincentive to stand and face trial, and the risk of flight is therefore heightened.
While the Anti-Violence Project would never mistakenly construe any such act of heinous violence as noble, the particularly cowardly way in which Mr. Fortunato and his accomplices disguised their intentions and identities by engaging Mr. Sandy on the internet, luring him to a secluded area, ganging up on him, further harming and victimizing him after hed been grievously injured, and finally fleeing the scene leaving him to suffer sends a clear message that these men acted solely in their own self interest, but also in ways that betray an unremitting desire for self-preservation, even at the highest cost to another human being."
"We are pleased that Judge Konviser-Levine has today ensured that Fortunato will indeed be present to face the consequences of his and his accomplices' vile plan, and we can now turn our attention to our primary interest - seeing justice for Michael, justice for his family, justice for his friends, and justice for this community," said Patton.
Case Background:
On Sunday, October 8, four men lured Michael Sandy to a remote location in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn where they attacked and attempted to rob him. As he attempted to escape the attack, Michael ran onto the Belt Parkway where he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The driver fled the scene, and the driver has yet to come forward.
On October 14, one day after his 29th birthday, Michael was removed from life support and passed away with family and friends beside him.
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The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project is the nation's largest service agency for victims of bias crimes against the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. Since 1980, the Anti-Violence Project has provided counseling and advocacy for tens of thousands of survivors of bias-motivated and domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. The Anti-Violence Project documents incidents of violence against and within LGTB communities, educates the public about the effects of violence, against or within our communities, and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people.
The Anti-Violence Project provides free and confidential assistance to crime victims through its 24-hour bilingual hotline (212-714-1141).
