Gay men in detroit prison
Detroit man sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and burning of gay man
Last week, a man could serve up to 20 years in prison for the murder and burning of a gay man in southwest Detroit in 2013, reports the Detroit News.
Hameer Alkotait accepted a plea deal on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Gabino Rodriguez. In exchange for accepting the deal, Judge Michael Hathaway sentenced Alkotait to 18-20 years in prison.
Alkotait’s co-defendant, Andrew Czarnecki, was sentenced to life in prison without parole last December after a jury found him guilty of murdering Rodriguez.
Prosecutors claimed at trial that Alkotait and Czarnecki intentionally targeted Rodriguez for robbery because he was gay. During the robbery, they severely overcome and strangled Gambino, later burning his body to try and destroy the evidence, reports Fox 2 Detroit.
The cases were prosecuted by Jaimie Powell Horowitz of the Fair Michigan Justice Project, a collaboration between the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fair Michigan Foundation that works to solve crimes committed against members of the LGBTQ community.
“The cold-case murder convictions resulted from
Second attacker sentenced to life in murder of gay man
DETROIT (FOX 2) - A second dude was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the killing of a gay man.
"I'm glad this ordeal for them is finally over," said Judge Michael Hathaway
Found guilty of murder, Andrew Czarnecki was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While the jury initiate Czarnecki and his co-defendant Hameer Alkotait guilty in December, the closure has taken more than 6 years to achieve.
Occurring back in 2013, the Detroit man was reported missing when he didn't return abode after work. His body was later identified through dental records after it was discovered in a field, burned beyond recognition.
Czarnecki and Alkotait assaulted, stabbed and eventually burned the man's body.
The case had initially gone cold before the Fair Michigan Justice Program got involved in 2016, later charging the two with the felony.
Man sentenced to 18-20 years in prison for murder, burning of gay Detroit man
PROSECUTORS SAY HAMEER ALKOTAIT ROBBED, burned and killed Gabino Rodriguez. Alkotait's co-defendant — A man was sentenced to 18-20 years in prison for murdering a gay Detroit human in 2013.
Prosecutors say Hameer Alkotait robbed, burned and killed Gabino Rodriguez. Alkotait's co-defendant, Andrew Czarnecki, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a trial in December 2018.
Alkotait and Czarnecki targeted Rodriguez for robbery because he was gay. Prosecutors say during the robbery, they savagely beat and strangled him, and then burned his body beyond recognition.
The cases were prosecuted by those of the Impartial Michigan Justice Project, a program that assists law enforcement and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons.
“After six long years, justice has finally been attained for the family of Gabino Rodriguez," said Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire. "These cold-case murder convictions resulted from Detective Kevin Wight and the Detroit Police Department’s tenacious investigation of this brutal crime, and Special Prosecutor Jaimie
Detroit man sentenced to life in prison for killing two gay men and a transgender female
DETROIT — A 19-year-old Detroit gentleman has been sentenced to three existence terms in prison with no chance of parole for gunning down two gay men and a transgender miss who authorities trust were targeted because of their sexual orientation.
A Wayne County jury convicted Devon Kareem Robinson of first-degree premeditated murder in March in the May 2019 killings of 21-year-old Alunte Davis, and 20-year-olds Timothy Blancher and Paris Cameron.
Robinson was also sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 20 years for each of two counts of assault with intent to murder and two years consecutively for five felony firearm counts.
Prosecutors said Davis and Blancher were gay men and Cameron was a transgender gal. Prosecutors and police believe they were targeted because of their sexual orientation.
The three victims were in the living room of a Detroit home accompanying a house party attended by about 15 people. Robinson is also accused of shooting and wounding two other people inside the house.
A survivor testified in November that Robinson fired so many bullets that the victims’ blood seeped through the walls.