Jose Sucuzhañay Place, at the corner of Bushwick Ave. and Kossuth, was named after the victim of a hate crime that occurred here in Dec. 2008. The suspects accused in his death appeared in court Monday. – Photo by Diego CupoloThe two men accused of killing Ecuadoran immigrant, Jose Sucuzhañay, while shouting anti-Hispanic and anti-gay epithets appeared in Kings County Supreme Court Monday for a pretrial hearing.
Suspects Hakim Scott and Keith Phoenix are being charged for the apparent random beating of Sucuzhañay with an aluminum baseball bat and a beer bottle on Bushwick Ave., which resulted in his death on Dec. 8, 2008. Jose and his brother, Romel, were intoxicated and holding each other up on their walk home from a local bar.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, claiming they were acting in self-defense after Sucuzhañay and his brother kicked their SUV as they drove past. They also claimed Sucuzhañay was armed with a gun.
The victim was a real estate broker with a wife and two children. His death sparked an emotional revolt among community leaders and politicians that led to several protests against hate crimes, both in Bushwick and at City Hall. Today, the site of the attack at Bushwick Ave. and Kossuth is co-named Jose Sucuzhañay Place to honor the victim and raise awareness of hate crimes in the city.
Professional Alternative March 23rd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
It’s nice that the corner was co-named, but I’d like to see these pigs electrocuted.
Jeremy Sapienza March 26th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
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