Bermuda: Attacker found guilty of hitting gay man in face with machete
“It is a human right of every citizen that he ought not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, his origin and such. This court can see very little difference between such rights and the rights and expectations not to be violently attacked on the basis of one’s sexual orientation…. In some jurisdictions, such as the United States of America, such offences have come to be known as hate crimes and they attract penalties much above that attracted by the normal offence. No such legislation has yet been introduced in this jurisdiction, nor has the defendant been so charged, but the court should take into account the basis for the attack on the part of the defendant. And the court does indeed find that basis to be an aggravating factor.”
Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves during the sentencing of Rashad Cooper, a Bermuda man who continually taunted a gay man, Shawn Nusum, over time, and finally attacked him with a machete cut to the face last November. Cooper is to be jailed for seven years. (The Royal Gazette)
