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A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to nearly six months in jail the beating death of a man outside a Washington gay club. Robert Hannah pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for punching Tony Hunter, who fell backward after he was struck and hit his head. Hunter died after 10 days in a coma.
The lack of more severe charges in the case has outraged activists in Washington’s gay community. Prosecutors have said they had problems with witnesses and that Hunter was drunk when he was punched, which may have made it harder for him to keep his balance.
Hannah claimed Hunter had tried to come on to him and touched his groin and buttocks, which he said led to the assault. Hunter’s friend said he did not see the victim touch Hannah. D.C. Superior Court Judge Rafael Diaz sentenced Hannah on Wednesday to 180 days in jail, the maximum possible sentence. Tony Hunter, who lived in Maryland, died days after police said Hannah punched him several times during a Sept. 10, 2008 “altercation” at Eighth and N streets, N.W. Police said Hunter fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement, causing a severe brain injury that led to his death.
Police arrested Hannah in connection with Hunter’s death and charged him with one count of voluntary manslaughter. But a grand jury discarded the manslaughter charge in July and indicted Hannah on the misdemeanor charge of simple assault.
A sentencing memorandum says that Hunter’s friend presented inconsistent and contradictory information to police and prosecutors and was not a reliable witness. Gay groups have claimed Hannah used the gay panic defence and this was believed by the jury. They have also questioned why Hannah’s witness seem to be believed over Hunter’s friend and why the charge had been reduced.
Police and the US attorney’s office said last autumn that there was enough evidence to bring a manslaughter charge against Hannah.
The lack of more severe charges in the case has outraged activists in Washington’s gay community. Prosecutors have said they had problems with witnesses and that Hunter was drunk when he was punched, which may have made it harder for him to keep his balance.
Hannah claimed Hunter had tried to come on to him and touched his groin and buttocks, which he said led to the assault. Hunter’s friend said he did not see the victim touch Hannah. D.C. Superior Court Judge Rafael Diaz sentenced Hannah on Wednesday to 180 days in jail, the maximum possible sentence. Tony Hunter, who lived in Maryland, died days after police said Hannah punched him several times during a Sept. 10, 2008 “altercation” at Eighth and N streets, N.W. Police said Hunter fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement, causing a severe brain injury that led to his death.
Police arrested Hannah in connection with Hunter’s death and charged him with one count of voluntary manslaughter. But a grand jury discarded the manslaughter charge in July and indicted Hannah on the misdemeanor charge of simple assault.
A sentencing memorandum says that Hunter’s friend presented inconsistent and contradictory information to police and prosecutors and was not a reliable witness. Gay groups have claimed Hannah used the gay panic defence and this was believed by the jury. They have also questioned why Hannah’s witness seem to be believed over Hunter’s friend and why the charge had been reduced.
Police and the US attorney’s office said last autumn that there was enough evidence to bring a manslaughter charge against Hannah.
