New York –Almost a year to the day after Michael Sandy passed away in the wake of being lured to a remote location at Plum Beach in Brooklyn and being chased into traffic on the Belt Parkway where he was struck by a car, a second defendant facing prison in that brutal murder faced justice today.
A Brooklyn jury today found Anthony Fortunato, 21, guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime and of petit larceny; he was acquitted of seven robbery-related charges he was facing.
Another defendant, John Fox, 20, was found guilty by a jury last Friday on seven of nine charges, the most serious being manslaughter as a hate crime.
Though four young men were arrested for the attack on Michael Sandy, Fortunato's trial has garnered the most attention because of his defense attorney's disclosure during opening statements that his client is in fact gay, and therefore could not have committed an anti-gay hate crime. After that disclosure, Fortunato's sexuality became a theme throughout the trial.
A jury will soon begin deliberating the fate of a third defendant, Ilya Shurov, 21. A fourth defendant, testified for the prosecution in exchange for a four-year sentence after pleading guilty last fall to attempted robbery as a hate crime.
"Last Friday, we stated that though we were pleased with the first verdict, this case was far from over given that there remained two juries yet to make their decisions," said Clarence Patton, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project's Executive Director.
"Today is another milestone on the road to justice for Michael, and perhaps some sense of closure and peace for his family and friends," continued Patton.
"We must applaud the work of the Brooklyn District Attorney's office both for ensuring that this case received the attention and resources it warranted, as well as for highlighting the fact that anti-gay hate crimes don't always look like the stereotypical "gay-bashing," but that sometimes, they look just like what was done to Michael Sandy by these young men," concluded Patton.
"There can be no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Sandy, whom many of us at the Anti-Violence Project have come to know in the last year, are models of grace, forgiveness and faith, who have been an incredible inspiration. We will continue to support them and look to them for the definition of justice in this case; however, though many of us were confused by elements of last week's verdict and wondered or not the acquittal on felony murder was an expedient decision by the jury as opposed to one based on the facts of the case," said Patton.
"Nevertheless, Mr. Fortunato and Mr. Fox were found guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime -- and given that, they could be in their 40's when released from prison; it is possible that they will pay for their part in Michael's death with their youth," added Patton.
This Saturday evening, the Michael Sandy Foundation, formed by Michael's parents and friends, will hold a Memorial Service at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Church in Park Avenue in Manhattan. Sunday, at 4:30PM, the Foundation will hold a candlelight vigil at Plum Beach the location to which Fortunato, Fox, Timmins, and Shurov lured Michael Sandy last October.
Sentencing for Fox and Fortunato is scheduled for November 20.
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In 2006, the Anti-Violence Project served over 2,000 victims of violence. The Anti-Violence Project's Safe Dating and Internet Safe Dating Tips, as well as annual reports on hate and domestic violence can be accessed online at http://www.avp.org/ or by calling 212-714-1184.
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).
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