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san diego
Sentencing delayed for man who injured lesbian
Pending psychological evaluation
Published Thursday, 23-Jul-2009 in issue 1126
A man who punched a lesbian musician, breaking several of her bones, as she was hugging her girlfriend won a sentencing delay in San Diego Superior Court last Tuesday.
The delay, which extends until Sept. 10, is to enable the man’s lawyer to obtain a psychological evaluation for his client.
“I need more time to complete a proper statement in mitigation,” wrote attorney Paul Rodriguez in a motion filed with the court on behalf of his client, Vinzen Matthew Williams, 21.
Judge Kathleen Lewis told Rodriguez she wasn’t ready to impose a sentence because he had not yet filed information about the psychological evaluation and she wanted to consider it.
Additionally, a probation report had not been prepared in time. Defendants have the right to have it available at least five court days before sentencing.
Williams plead guilty May 29 to felony assault of Rhythm Turner, 25, on May 14 at 10:30 p.m. in Mission Beach. Turner, a singer and guitarist, was hospitalized with two facial fractures, one on her nose and the other under her eye socket. She later made a video on YouTube in which she talked about the assault, during which Williams uttered slurs about lesbians. The video has received more than 10,000 hits since it was posted.
While Williams could face a maximum term of four years in prison, the District Attorney’s office agreed not to oppose a sentence of one year in jail under terms of probation, according to court records.
Turner, her partner, her mother, and other supporters attended San Diego Superior Court for the sentencing. They expressed disappointment that it was delayed, but said they would return on Sept. 10 to speak out about the incident. Williams’ mother was also there.
Williams remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $50,000 bail.
Rose Daigle
says:
The woman will carry her scars for the rest of her life, and if the
attacker only gets 1 year , what a
Jul 25, 2009 7:27 PM
Charles Pratt
says:
I believe that Judge Kathleen Lewis needs to hear from the community about this hate crime. Rhythm and those close to her have suffered from this horrendous attack, but this type of crime also affects the entire community. In my view it is like an act of terrorism that unsettles everybody. Judge Lewis should send a message with this sentence. I intend to be there on September 10 to support Rhythm and to express my views about sentencing to the court. I hope there will be significant representation from our community.
Jul 26, 2009 12:00 PM
H. (Bart) Vincelette
says:
When the assault involves facial fractures , it is medically very serious.The sentencing for such a crime of violence should take into consideration the message it sends to the public at large. And , hugging your partner must never be considered a provocation. Back in the 1980's a judge in Florida , when faced with a case of anti-gay violence , said to the prosecutor "so it's now against the law to beat up a homosexual?" I think that at the time ; the worst they could do to him was hide his chewing tobacco.
Jul 26, 2009 8:16 PM
Ashlee
says:
this is absoutly stupid and he should get longer!! i myself am i bisexual and if this were me, i would be expecting him to get a longer sentence. we have the same rights as any other man or woman!!
Jul 27, 2009 3:18 AM
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