11/30/2007
Judge Sets Bond for Killer of Sean William Kennedy
A judge today set a bond of $25,000 and ordered home detention for 19-year-old Stephen Andrew Moller, who delivered a lethal punch to Sean William Kennedy last May outside Brew's Bar in Greenville, South Carolina. Kennedy fell to the ground and died of his injuries 17 hours later.
The arrest warrant for Moller said "investigators believe the assault was due to the victim's sexual orientation" GreenvilleOnline reported shortly after Moller's arrest.
"Sheriff's Office investigator Paul Silvaggio testified today in Greenville County Circuit Court that after an 'extensive investigation,' he determined that Kennedy's homosexuality did not motivate the attack," GreenvilleOnline reports:
"Moller's attorney Ryan L. Beasley said Moller, who has been incarcerated since May, would have to live with this the rest of his life. Kennedy's mother Elke Kennedy addressed the court, saying 'At least he gets to live. My son won't be home for Christmas.' She characterized Moller as a 'violent man,' and has previously objected to the reduction in charge from murder to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. She has said that her son was openly gay and she has advocated for the passage of hate-crime laws that would apply to sexual orientation. Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail has said the charge of involuntary manslaughter is not sufficient, but 'correct under the law.' Beasley said if released, Moller would live with his mother, that he had turned himself in to police, and that he isn't a danger to society. Couch ordered that Moller may go to work, may see a lawyer or doctor, and may have no contact with the victim's family."
A disappointing end to a tragic, unnecessary hateful event.
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Totally disgusting. Elke Kennedy said the perfect words.
That bastard needs to be locked up.
Posted by: Tread | Nov 30, 2007 5:46:56 PM
I feel so sorry for Mrs. Kennedy, she hit the nail on the head precisely. This animal gets to live and from what the we can see his sentence is just a slap on his wrist and to the face of Sean Kennedy's family and the gay community on the whole. This is exactly the reason the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill needs to be passed. Let's hope it gets past W's veto pen.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Nov 30, 2007 5:50:26 PM
Very sad, very infuriating. Damn right he'll have to live with killing an innocent person for the rest of his life, but he'll get to live, after serving a disgustingly short sentence, unlike Sean William Kennedy, who no longer has that luxury. So if it wasn't a hate crime, what was it? According to the original reports, Moller jumped out of a car and attacked; there were witnesses who thought it was a hate crime. Seems like some explanations are in order. It also seems that people can get longer sentences for drug arrests and consensual sex between teens than for killing a man and wounding a family forever.
Posted by: Ernie | Nov 30, 2007 6:04:00 PM
I love the comment that Weasley Beasley made about Moller not being a threat to society. HE JUST KILLED SOMEONE; how is that not a threat?
Posted by: woodroad34 | Nov 30, 2007 6:50:38 PM
Home detention?! Home detention!!!!??? What the fuck were they thinking?! This guy should be locked up forever! He is responsible for a completely unprovoked murder. Disgusting.
Posted by: peterparker | Nov 30, 2007 7:12:40 PM
How sad,
Sean was cute, too.
Moller will probably live with himself just fine, since he's most likely a psychopath with no conscience. (but he can't escape karma)
Posted by: Jordan | Nov 30, 2007 9:21:27 PM
This "judicial" system is a total joke and a bad one at that when it comes to crimes against the glbt communities.
Just where can the gay community find fairness under the law in this so called "democracy" and, I for one am tired of the thug killers getting treated better than the victim, whose families will never share another birthday, holiday, and other events.
Disgusting.
Posted by: Sebastian | Nov 30, 2007 10:46:11 PM
This may be anecdotal and not very exact but I can't remember many of these bigoted murderers getting anything approaching justice in the years I've been reading about them.
I just hope the Democrats haven’t set us up to lose the chance to pass the hate crimes bills after gutting ENDA. It’s desperately needed.
I think we're going to end up having to coerce them to punish these pigs. Brother Sean and all our martyrs paid a blood price. The least we can do is never miss a chance to sit on juries trying these cases, never miss a chance to have a demonstration to demand harsh treatment for these pigs and never miss a chance to rake them, their families and their churches over the coals in civil court.
Maybe someday we can say rest in peace to the hundreds like Sean Kennedy, Gwyn Araujo, Shakia Gunn, able seaman Allen Schindler, Matthew Shepard and private Barry Winchell. Today is not that day.
Posted by: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED | Nov 30, 2007 11:22:46 PM
Just like when blacks were lynched. The law looked the other way. Same as now with gays. Vigilante justice needed here.
Posted by: Vi Agara | Dec 1, 2007 2:09:41 AM
Mrs. Kennedy told me that Moller left a message on one of Sean's friend's cell phone that night. "Tell that fagot he owes me $500 for a broken hand."
I really hope Moller was someone's 'bitch' while he spent time in jail.
If you live in South Carolina - hate crimes legislation has been proposed in both the House and Senate. So get ready for another fight, in South Carolina, for equal benefits under the law and get ready for the wrath of Elke Kennedy! The battle begins in January of 2008.
You can help support Mrs. Kennedy's efforts by going to: seanslastwish.com
Posted by: Uncle Zoloft | Dec 1, 2007 7:26:54 AM
Disappointing yes, an end no. To clarify: this was only a bond hearing. Moller still has to stand trial for killing Sean. Unfortunately it's ony an involuntary manslaughter charge and not murder.
The most disappointing aspect of this story so far is that the Sheriff's Office now says that hate didn't motivate the killing even though Moller apparently left a message for a friend of Sean's telling them that "that faggot [Sean]" owes Moller for his broken hand.
Posted by: SMLK | Dec 1, 2007 9:08:14 AM
First let me say how upset I am to read that this "defendant's" bail is only $25K and he was released on home detention. I'll bet there are many others in the county jail there on lesser charges with much higher bail and no opportunity for so-called home detention.
2nd, I hope the victim's family retains a good civil attorney and goes after the perpetrator of this crime to take any tangible assets available away from him as further penalty for his crimes.
3rd - where is the FBI and other alphabet agencies? If this was a racial crime, white killing a black person - you can damn well bet they would be looking at a civil rights violation against the suspect.
The court system in this area, like our political machine is a joke apparently. When will a real candidate show up and when will real reform occur? When we as a community stand up, nation, strike that, WORLDWIDE and demand change!!
Posted by: AJ | Dec 1, 2007 8:13:06 PM