I am a bit late with this, but even though it is a few weeks old it is worth posting. Jihad Watch reader Judy has sent me this important update on this story: “Plea Deal Possible In BB Gun Hate Crime Shootings,” from KTVU.com, April 8 (thanks to Lesbian Conservative):
SAN FRANCISCO — Three Hayward men accused of shooting a San Francisco man they thought was gay with a BB gun in February delayed entering pleas Thursday, and prosecutors indicated that talks are under way to settle the case.
Shafiq Hashemi, 21, Mohammad Habibzada, 24, and Sayed Bassam, 21, are accused of shooting a 27-year-old man from their car at 16th and Guerrero streets in the Mission District on Feb. 26, then driving off. The man was hit in the cheek but not seriously injured.
Police arrested the three nearby and they allegedly confessed that they had come to San Francisco to shoot gay people, according to police.
Prosecutors have charged them with assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a firearm, hate crimes and attempted mayhem.
The defendants were not required to appear in person in San Francisco Superior Court. They have remained in custody since their bail was raised to $450,000 each on March 12.
Judge Bruce Chan ordered entry of plea delayed until April 19 “to see if there can be some resolution that would meet all the interests of the communities and parties involved.”
“We’ve communicated an offer to the defendants, and they’re considering it,” prosecutor Victor Hwang said after the hearing.
Hwang said his office made the offer after discussions with various community groups that belong to a local hate crimes coalition. He said the offer “conveys the seriousness of the offense, and also takes into account the age (of the defendants), the remorse that’s been shown, the cooperation of the defendants, and the police investigation.”
Community groups have been part of the discussion “because hate crimes are unique,” Hwang said.
“The whole impetus behind hate crimes charges is a recognition that it’s not just one victim involved in each case, but it’s a whole community that is intimidated or impacted,” he said….
And in this case, clearly the victim community that Hwang has in mind is the Muslim community, not the gay community.
Lesbian Conservative‘s comments are right on the mark:
The judge in the case, Bruce Chan, ordered a delay for the defendants in entering their plea to ‘see if a resolution that would meet all the interests of the communities and the parties involved’ could be reached. So now these Muslim mobsters are just one of the ‘parties’ involved whose ‘interests’ need resolving? Just when did the judicial system declare that defendants who are accused of violent acts are simply parties to unfortunate incidents that need resolution? Perhaps they should call in a mediator so that a warm and fuzzy win-win kum bay ya climax can be reached.
The District Attorney, Victor Hwang, stated that the offer was made to the defendants after consultation with the local ‘hate crime coalition’. The offer takes into consideration the age of the defendants, their remorse, and their cooperation. Their age? They’re in their 20s; they’re grown men, for gosh sakes, fully responsible for their actions. Remorse? Of course they’re showing remorse–they’ve been caught and incarcerated! What a pathetic political sham!
Can anyone imagine community service offered to non-Muslim white guys for attacking gay men? Can anyone imagine the media keeping mum if white guys had committed such crimes? We all know the Left-wing media would be crawling all over this story, looking for any connection to a Tea Party group, the Republican Party, Christianity, or any other of their proscribed affiliations.
Indeed. Read it all.