Two men charged with torture and rape of gay victim
A jury has charged two men of torturing and raping a gay, black man in a homophobic and racist attack.
Jimmy Garza Jr, 32, and Ramiro Serrata Jr, 22 – from Texas – were charged with conspiracy to commit hate crimes, a hate crime violation based on race and colour, a hate crime violation based on sexual orientation and using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
It is alleged that Garza and Serrata invited the unnamed victim to an apartment, before assaulting him while shouting homophobic and racist slurs, according to KRIS6 News.
Over a harrowing three hours, the pair allegedly punched and kicked the man, assaulted him with various objects – including a frying pan, a coffee mug, a belt and a chair – before sodomising him with a broom.
The defendants also poured bleach into the man’s eyes and pistol whipped him with a handgun according to police reports.
When the victim began to bleed, they allegedly forced the man to strip naked and clean up his own blood – which was spattered throughout the house – with his own clothes.
They then sodomised him with a broom and another unknown object.
The man eventually escaped the apartment by jumping out of a second-floor window and altering police.
If convicted, Garza and Serrata face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Both remain in custody.
