News
2006-04-11
Two CBS newsmen
gay-bashed on St. Martin
Two gay employees
of CBS News were severely beaten during what is being
described as a homophobic attack by a group of men on the
C
Two gay employees
of CBS News were severely beaten during what is being
described as a homophobic attack by a group of men on the
Caribbean resort island of St. Martin. WFOR television
in Miami reports that Richard Jefferson, a senior
producer for CBSEveningNews, and companion Ryan Smith, a
producer-researcher for the newsmagazine 48Hours, were attacked as they left a popular bar
early Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers hurled homophobic
insults at the two while beating them with a tire
iron. The brutal attack was said to have come after an
altercation with the men earlier in the night inside the club.
Jefferson sustained severe cuts on the back of
his head and his lower back. Smith suffered a
fractured skull and possible neurological damage. A
doctor said that Smith is unable to speak properly and may
have difficulty walking. Both have been airlifted to
Miami for treatment.
Jefferson has told news outlets that employees
of the club called police after the attack but there
was no response. Jefferson said he called police
himself from the hospital in St. Martin, but at no time
did an officer come to the hospital to take a report.
(Sirius OutQ News)
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