Charges dropped against three men in New York ‘gay bashing’
Three of the 11 men charged with an homophobic attack in New York have had the charges against them dropped.
Bryan Almonte, 17, Steven Carabello, 17, and Brian Cepeda, 16, were cleared of any involvement in the October 3rd attack yesterday and were released from jail.
The district attorney’s office said the evidence against them was insufficient.
According to the New York Daily News, Bronx Assistant District Attorney Theresa Gottlieb told Justice Steven Barrett: “After a thorough review of the evidence, there is insufficient evidence to prove criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Police said last week that the trio were part of a gang who attacked four men, sexually abusing two of them.
The attacks were said to have taken place after the gang believed that a new recruit was gay.
The teenager was beaten by the gang, who then lured his older boyfriend to an empty house where he was beaten and sexually assaulted, police said.
Another teenager suspected to be gay was also allegedly beaten and sexually abused, while the older man’s brother was said to have been robbed and beaten.
