04/25/2007
Killers of Gay Brooklyn Designer Michael Sandy Appear in Court
For all our coverage in the murder of Michael Sandy, click here.
The New York Daily News reports that the parents of slain Brooklyn designer Michael Sandy "wept silently" as a crowded courtroom watched videotaped confessions from their son's young killers, John Fox, Ilya Shurov,and Anthony Fortunato.
Last October, the three men, along with 16-year-old Gary Timmins, who has yet to be charged, lured Sandy via an internet chat room to a parking lot on the Belt Parkway where he was robbed, and, following a scuffle, forced into oncoming traffic. He was then hit by a car and sustained injuries that would keep him in a coma until his family later made the choice to remove him from life support. Sandy died October 13.
According to the New York Times: "They said they dragged the gay man off the road and searched his pockets for money and drugs but his pockets were empty...Prosecutors said they chose their victim because they thought gay men were weak and afraid."
John Fox (pictured, from October) was first to appear on screen: "Mr. Fox said that Mr. Fortunato had lured the victim to an area near Plumb Beach. There, Mr. Fox told the victim to drive to the beach while the others waited in ambush. 'He asked what it was, and I told him it was a gay beach,' Mr. Fox said. 'I told him the gay beach was a place where gay people have sex and stuff.' At the beach, Mr. Fox said, Mr. Shurov punched Mr. Sandy and chased him into traffic. 'He just was right down on the ground,' Mr. Fox said, 'and he didn’t move.'"
The tapes were played so the judge could determine whether they would be admissible at trial.
In Shurov's tape, the 20-year-old apologized to Sandy's family: "We weren't trying to hurt him. We just wanted some money. I didn't intend for him to get hit by a car. I was just drinking and my friends got me involved. I apologize to the family. I know saying words won't help the family. I'm really sorry."
Sandy's mother said she accepted the apology: "We've got to be forgiving."
The young men could face 20 years behind bars if convicted.
Posted 10:35 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Michael Sandy, New York, News | Permalink
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Yeah, I want to hear how sorry he is when he is some big Mo'Fo's bitch in Rikers.
Posted by: W=WIMP | Apr 25, 2007 10:43:10 AM
Rape is never funny and it should never be a form of punishment. Living with having killed someone and being in prison for a good long while is punishment in its own right.
Posted by: nycredneck | Apr 25, 2007 10:48:40 AM
NYCRed,
Very good point.
Sandy's mother has more grace than most of us can muster.
Posted by: James | Apr 25, 2007 10:53:36 AM
I thought Sandy's mother seems extremely admirable too. And these rotten guys justly deserve prison. I'm just relieved none of them have Irish names. If I had to listen to any more of the typical Manhattan gay Irish-o-phobia I'd get sick.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 25, 2007 11:01:35 AM
Not a matter of being funny. He will learn what real terror is--what that poor kid felt in the instant when he ran, and what he felt in the instant before he got hit.
I have no sympathy for these criminals. Too many gay men and lesbians have gone to their graves at the hands of shit-heads like them.
Posted by: W=WIMP | Apr 25, 2007 11:24:42 AM
I hope these murderers rot in prison and see Michael Sandy's face every time they close their eyes. I hope his memory haunts them until the day they die.
Rape isn't funny, but I can't help but hope that these kids become victimized and abused in much the same way as they victimized and abused Michael Sandy. I think that the fear of being raped/attacked will help them understand the fear and pain they caused Michael and his family.
My deepest respect goes out to Michael's parents. They are truly demonstrating the compassion that Michael's murderers lacked.
Posted by: Jonathon | Apr 25, 2007 11:49:19 AM
Only twenty years?
Posted by: Bill | Apr 25, 2007 12:31:07 PM
MJ, just read your response to my other post and thought it was completely off the wall. After reading your comment here I can only think you have some kind of persecution complex. I mean, this story has absolutely NOTHING to do with Irishness at all.
I told you I'm part Irish, but I look very Irish, red hair, Irish last name, everything and I don't encounter any anti-Irish bigotry. On the other hand, from my Irish family and friends I do encounter anti-gay bigotry, largely informed by their strict Catholisism.
I realize you just come on here to try to needle people with your delusions of Irish persecution so I'm just going to ignore you from now on, but you really need to get a grip.
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 25, 2007 1:58:53 PM
"Only twenty years?"
The victim is gay that is how justice works. I have absolutely no sympathy for these 4. They desvere every bad thing they get.
Posted by: Silas | Apr 25, 2007 3:14:14 PM
I have many Irish buds, and I think you're the one who is deluded, Daniel. You or anyone can email me about it if he agrees/disagrees (I doubt you will, since you can't seem to handle talking reality). But, yes, I apologize for getting off topic because this thread should be about Michael Sandy.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 25, 2007 5:07:42 PM
MJ, I won't be emailing you back because I don't want a lot of crazy email from you. I don't know where all your weirdness is coming from, but I assure you, I'm not deluded--at least about this issue. I have lots of Irish friends and family--some are homophobic, some aren't--many are even gay (myself included). I have lots of gay friends and family--none of them have ever said or done anything anti-Irish.
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 25, 2007 5:25:09 PM
Daniel : I wouldn't send you any crazy emails. (Gimme a break!) But I do think you're making the mistake of thinking your own experiences represent those of everyone else out there. (Especially since bigotries might vary from different parts of the U.S. to others, even in the gay community). But at least you could go back to the McGreevey posts and respond to the last argument I brought up. (That's it, for here. RIP Michael Sandy).
Posted by: MJ | Apr 25, 2007 5:55:42 PM
Ive been following the posts and reactions here as I am an avid reader of this blog in general. I used to be really good friends with Mike. I must of spent practically every night with him between the ages of 17-19. We both lived on Long Island and he was part of the teenage "crew" at that time. Many late nights sitting in his car outside my moms house smoking joint after joint, having the most intense conversations. I saw Mike for the first time in a few years that January before his death. Being a gay man, as well as an old friend of MIke's, I am extremely angry with him for putting himself in that situation. Dont let this be misunderstood, this isnt me condoning what has happened. I agree with everyone here about these people paying for their actions. What bothers me is that why the fuck was he putting himself in that situation? Mike wasnt stupid and he had to known the risks. It angers me that gay culture promotes this anonymous sex life. Wether you all will agree, it does. Its all about the "cock hunt." It needs to be addressed within the community and dealt with. Gay blogs tend to focus on bodies and muscle shots. Is that all we are? Perhaps if muscles werent a turn off for me I might agree in some way, but I am more interested in the social/political posts. It angers me that people dont have the respect for themselves to see what that does to them. It needs to be understood that online sex hookups are not only dangerous, they are degrading us as a whole.
Posted by: J | Apr 25, 2007 7:09:09 PM
I looked up your last argument and it didn't convince me.
"But I do think you're making the mistake of thinking your own experiences represent those of everyone else out there."
I could make the same claim about you.
Whenever you accuse an entire group of people of racism you are making a mistake. If you have some sort of proof that all the gay people in Manhattan hate the Irish (I guess that would include the Irish gays) then I might take you more seriously--but, especially with the way you inject it into subjects that have nothing to do with the Irish--I just can't help thinking you're a bit off.
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 25, 2007 8:05:23 PM
It comes as no surprise that the judicial system does not care, even on this site and with all the excellent information provided on his brutal death, only a handful of posters even care to comment or read about this tragedy. I wonder why, well, sadly, I know the answer to that.
But, hopefully this sad loss of life will let people know, your life isn't worth an online hookup.
Posted by: Shane | Apr 25, 2007 8:51:16 PM
Not to start that whole "Gay White Men versus The Black Community" piss match again, but given the circumstances...I wonder what the "blacks are homophobic, whites are tolerant" crowd in Chelsea have to say about this?
Posted by: John | Apr 26, 2007 1:07:19 AM
John, what's your point? Is there someone actually arguing that whites are never racist?
Posted by: Daniel | Apr 26, 2007 1:45:04 PM