DeKalb DA to seek death in anti-gay death
5:07 pm, December 3rd, 2012
DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said Monday he will seek the death penalty against three gangsters accused of killing a man because they thought he was gay.
The defendants—Darrius Aderhold, Christopher Foreman and Jonathan Ray—are charged with 22 felonies each in the Jan. 8 death of Robert Ross.
“These three individuals brutally beat, disfigured and killed Ross as part of gang initiation into the Bloods and because they perceived him to be a gay male,” James said in a statement. “This act was senseless and horrible. They took the life of Mr. Ross in a cold and calculated manner. We will hold them accountable.”
A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, but the case will likely be reassigned because of the death penalty notice, James’ statement said.
A March 29 indictment said the men attacked Ross with a chair leg, fractured his skull, beat him and robbed him of his jewelry, clothing and car.
They are charged with malice murder, violations of street gang terrorism laws, battery, assault, false imprisonment, robbery and theft.
The case is State v. Aderhold, No. 12-CR-2577.
Contributor: Mark Niesse in Death Penalty, DeKalb courts, District Attorneys | subscribe to rss | 
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