03/27/2006
OC Killer Gregory Michael Pisarcik Sentenced
Gregory Michael Pisarcik was sentenced on Friday for the murder of Narciso Leggs Jr., a retired immigration agent whom investigators found dead in his apartment in 2002 after the man had been missing for several days.
They met by coincidence in Laguna Beach, on a bench. Pisarcik was intending to Rob someone but admitted that after meeting Leggs "knew right then and there" he was going to commit murder.
Leggs invited Pisarcik to his apartment for a drink, and took a shower. When he emerged from the shower, Pisarcik was waiting.
Pisarcik then smashed the 53-year-old Leggs' head with a Champagne bottle, cut off his ears with scissors, and wrote an anti-gay slur on the victim's back. "If Mr. Pisarcik had really known what kind of person my brother Narciso was, he could not have been able to murder my brother. Whether my brother was gay or straight, my brother projected a very useful, hardworking and positive life. He never judged others," the victim's sister said in court.
Pisarcik was silent during his sentence, which is life in prison without parole.
Man sentenced to life for hate crime murder in Orange County [ap]
Posted 10:26 AM EST by Andy Towle in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Justice served. Tragic story, but it's a good thing that this animal is off the street for good.
Posted by: Brian | Mar 27, 2006 10:43:35 AM
Of course, one should not mention the fact that homophobia is culturally acceptable. It seems that the society tillilates and approves of verbal bashing, yet the consequences are dire indeed when it translates into physical violence.
I am surprised that he received such a sentence in the USA. He usually would receive a gay defence.
Posted by: Raymond | Mar 27, 2006 11:02:28 AM
Bigotry, whether racism, homophobia, sexism or religious-hatred, still exists in our society and is encouraged directly or indirectly. Look at the way women are treated as they age and are devalued; or look at how older workers face age discrimination in the workplace (not only do are parents face this but so will we one day).
When you encounter someone spewing something hatred do you say something or dismiss it because its "funny," affects another group, or intimidated? Finding the courage to tell friends, family, acquaintances or others that their bigotry is unacceptable will have meaning.
For example, Andrew Sullivan is a noted gay conservative who touts his belief in "The Bell Curve," a debunked, pseudo-scientific book that claims African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos are genetically inferior to Caucasians. "The Bell Curve" has been shredded by experts over the last decade but Sullivan, as recently as late last year, continues laud the book. Yet given this, Sullivan is still supported by the many in the "gay community."
While I don't agree with Sullivan's politics, I don't begrudge his right to be a conservative gay Republican. That's his choice. However, supporting the right of someone to be gay and Republican is a far cry from giving aid and comfort to someone who espouses racist beliefs happily.
Posted by: noah | Mar 27, 2006 12:22:19 PM
Rot in jail, Mr. Pisarcik, rot in jail.
Posted by: Bill | Mar 27, 2006 12:23:35 PM
it is a shame to here this but this is not the same person i new. it is a shame that help didnt get to him in his problems with the law sooner befor he left nj to go to cali.
Posted by: toneloc078 | Dec 3, 2008 11:43:25 PM