libertyavenue:

A District man who punched a Maryland man outside a Northwest Washington gay nightclub was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail. The victim later died from his injuries, and the reduced charges sparked outrage among gay rights advocates.

Robert Hannah, 19, had pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault in the beating death of Tony Randolph Hunter, 37. According to investigators, Hunter allegedly grabbed Hannah’s buttocks and groin outside the Be Bar nightclub near Eighth and N streets NW on Sept. 7, 2008. Hannah punched Hunter, who fell and hit his head on the sidewalk. Hannah was taken to a hospital, where he lapsed into a coma and later died as a result of a blunt-force trauma to the back of his head.

Hannah was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter. But after a nine-month investigation that included contradictory witness interviews, prosecutors reduced the charge to simple assault, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Flynn told a D.C. Superior Court judge.

According to court records, one witness saw Hannah yelling “Terrace” over Hunter’s body before fleeing. Terrace was a reference to the Northwest Washington area known as Wood Terrace where the nightclub is located.

Another witness saw Hannah punch Hunter but said a friend of Hannah’s kicked Hunter in the head while the victim was lying on the ground. At least two of the witnesses had criminal records themselves.

Flynn said interviews, including one with Hunter’s friend who was with him the night of the attack, offered varying — often contradictory — accounts of what happened, including how much Hunter and his friend had to drink.

Because of the contradictions and lack of reliability of the witness accounts, Flynn said his office “could not prove a manslaughter took place” and instead charged Hannah with misdemeanor assault.

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“We drove 300 miles to see him get six months in jail for killing my son,” said Hunter’s stepfather, John Yarborough of Franklinton, N.C., Hunter’s home town.

Hunter’s family said they believe more people were involved. “My son was six-foot-three and about 200 pounds and a former army sergeant,” Yarborough said. “One punch from that little guy wouldn’t have done that. The [prosecutor] didn’t press the witnesses. They didn’t work hard enough.”

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This is why I hate living in DC.  We have the highest rate of GLBT related hate crimes, the highest rate of trans murders, and the lowest prosecution rate.  People don’t give a fuck if we die, we’re just a bunch of fags and trannies.  Everyone likes to paint DC as a liberal city, but the majority of residents are still bigots.