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| Monsey stabber indicted on federal hate crime charges |
| 2020-01-11 |
| [IsraelTimes] Grafton Thomas, accused in Hanukkah attack at rabbi’s home, hit with five federal counts each of attempting to kill victims based on their religion and obstructing religious exercise in additional to state charges. A federal grand jury handed up hate crime charges Thursday against the man accused of stabbing five people with a machete during a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City. The indictment charges Grafton Thomas with five counts each of attempting to kill victims based on their religion and obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon. Thomas, 37, also faces state charges in the December 28 attack inside the home of a rabbi in Monsey, N.Y. He is being held without bail on the federal charges. "Luckily, he'll still be able to vote Democrat via absentee ballot in future elections" "We now allege that he did this with the intention of targeting his victims because of their religion," Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a news release. "Thomas faces life in prison for his alleged violent acts of prejudice and intolerance." A message was sent to Thomas’ defense attorney, Michael Sussman, seeking comment. Sussman has said Thomas had a long history of mental illness. He has requested Thomas undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Authorities have said they found a blood-stained 18-inch (45-centimeter) machete in Thomas’ car, along with a knife smeared with dried blood and hair. They also said Thomas had handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references and recently used his phone to look up information on Hitler and the location of synagogues. The Hanukkah stabbings came amid a wave of anti-Semitic attacks targeting Orthodox Jewish communities in and around New York City. One of the men maimed in the machete attack remains at death's door. His family has said he may have permanent brain damage. Related: Grafton Thomas: 2020-01-07 Lincoln Chafee Launching Longshot White House Bid as Libertarian Grafton Thomas: 2020-01-01 Day 4: US Marines: Monsey attack suspect was kicked out of boot camp Grafton Thomas: 2019-12-31 Day 3: Monsey suspect searched Hitler, anti-Semitism ahead of attack, prosecution says |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #6 "Fine. Your client can be stoned and beaten to death, as per his culture. Make it so." |
| Posted by: Frank G 2020-01-11 19:19 |
| #5 Your honor, my client must be released immediately! He was just following the dictates of his religion! It was his religious duty! How are we to judge a different culture? |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2020-01-11 16:51 |
| #4 He;s the Monsey stabber, not "the whack job black guy who stabbed a bunch of jewish people." What's unsaid says the most. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-01-11 06:34 |
| #3 |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2020-01-11 06:03 |
| #2 "Your honour, my client was dancing the dervish when someone handed him a machete and ran away. He just wanted to present an islamic dance before a Jewish audience peacefully." |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2020-01-11 06:01 |
| #1 Thank G*d he's not facing NY court! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-01-11 03:38 |