Man sentenced to life for brutal homophobic killing
The man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after fatally beating his gay victim to death.
Darrius Aderhold pleaded guilty to the murder of 46-year-old Robert Ross.
Prosecutors in Georgia told the court they believe Aderhold and two other men – Jonathan Ray and Christopher Foreman – lured an unsuspecting Mr Ross to a motel room, before carrying out the attack as part of a gang initiation.
Once they got back to the room, the gang tied their victim to a chair, before beating him so badly that his skull was fractured and almost every bone in his face was broken said Deputy Chief District Attorney Anna Cross said during sentencing.
“Almost every bone in his face was broken, his skull crushed,” she said.
The court heard that the victim’s injuries were so severe that paramedics could not determine his sex or race.
Mr Ross was targeted purely due to his sexuality, claimed prosecutors.
Although Aderhold and his assailants initially faced the death penalty, all three have now been sentenced to life in prison after accepting plea deals, according to AJC.
“I want to apologise to the victim’s family for a situation that shouldn’t have taken place,” Aderhold said during sentencing.
“I’m not asking for their forgiveness because I don’t think they should. I just feel in my heart I should say I’m sorry.”
Last month, a violent sexual offender who carried out the “sustained and brutal” murder of a university student was jailed for life in the UK.
Richard Danter, 31, was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years and five months in prison for the killing of 20-year-old Billy Mankelow.
