Juan Carlos Lopez, Luis M. Alonso Piovet, Adonis Diaz, and Pablo Reinaldo Romo-FigueroaPhoto: Screenshot
A decide dominated on Friday that 4 males who viciously beat up two gay males in Florida in 2018 Weren’t appearing in self-protection.
The assault Occurred simply after the Miami Bevery Gay Satisfaction Parade. Rene Chalarca and Dimitri Lugonov have been exiting a relaxationroom in Lumus Park. They said they have been holding palms and hugged earlier than the assault started.
Associated: A pair was assaulted for holding palms at Miami Satisfaction. How police reacted made it worse.
The lads additionally beat Helmut Muller, a bystander who tried To assist the couple. He was pushed again onto the pavemalest and Needed to get 4 stitches on the again of his head.
All three victims Needed to be rushed to the hospital. Chalarca suffered a damaged facial bone and misplaced his job as a Outcome of he was in An extreme quantity of ache To have The power to work.
The victims think about thOn they have been assaulted Because of “The biggest method that we have been dressed” And the method they Appeared like they “have been collectively.” The assaulters shouted “maricones,” an anti-gay slur in Spanish.
The assaulters have been later recognized as Juan Carlos Lopez, Adonis Diaz, Pablo Romo-Figueroa, and Luis Alonso-Piovet, who all turned themselves in after surveillance video of the brutal beating was launched.
They have been charged with three counts aggravated battery, As properly as to with a hate crime.
Replace: The 4 subjects have simply surrendered @ MBPD by way of an lawyer.
We anticipate felony costs for every of them. https://t.co/OUUKUPd3gl
— Miami Bevery Police (@MiamiBeveryPD) April 10, 2018
On Friday, Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan decided To not dismiss the assaulters’ battery costs based mostly on their claims thOn they have been appearing in self-protection beneath Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Floor” regulation.
After A 3-day listening to, the decide concluded thOn the video Does not current any proof thOn the assaulters’ safety was In hazard.
Based on prosecutors, the 4 males started assaulting the couple as a Outcome of Chalarca by probability brushed in the direction of Lopez as he was Coming out of The relaxation room.
“They do not Appear to be entitled to immunity Because of An off-the-cuff brush of the shoulder,” said prosecutor Justin Funck, in accordance to the Miami Herald.
Whereas the decide dominated in the direction of the males’s self-protection argumalest, It is nonetheless potential for them To place it to use in a jury trial down the road.
The assault gained vital consideration again in 2018.
Shockingly, the 4 males have been even honored in 2019 at An monumalestal money gala for An space LGBTQ group after The chief director claimed That they had been “wrongly accused.”
Juan Lopez’s father additionally acquired here to his protection, saying that his son couldn’t have dedicated a hate crime as a Outcome of he grew up with gay dads.
However the state prosecutor’s office held agency.
“We think about We now have enough proof to show past An Low price doubt The costs in the direction of them: Aggravated Battery with Prejudice/Weapon or Bodily Harm, Aggravated Battery, Assault with Prejudice/or on Spiritual Institution Flooring, and Assault,” said a spokesperson On the time. “If that Weren’t the case, The costs would have been dropped Prior to now.”