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August 21, 2008

Jury Rules Houston-Area Man's Murder a Hate Crime

A man who was found guilty of murdering a gay flight attendant committed the crime out of hatred for gays, according to a Brazoria County, Texas, jury, the Houston Chronicle reports.

The jury made the ruling last week. It had already found Terry Mark Mangum, 27, of Cypress, Texas, guilty of murdering Kenneth Cummings, 46, and sentenced him to life in prison. The verdict that the killing was a hate crime will be among the factors considered when Mangum comes up for parole, for which he will be eligible in 30 years.

Mangum had been out of prison for three weeks after serving a five-year sentence for burglary when he met Cummings outside a Houston bar in June 2007.

They left the bar separately but met up again at another bar. Footage from a supermarket security camera shows the men together purchasing beer and wine that night. Prosecutors said that night Mangum went to Cummings's home in the Houston suburb of Pearland, where Mangum killed Cummings by slitting his throat and stabbing him in the back of the head. They said Mangum cleaned up the house the following day and drove Cummings's body to a ranch. Cummings's body was found partially burned a week later in a shallow grave. His credit cards were taken to buy a flashlight, charcoal, and gasoline.

Mangum pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychologist said he was a "cauldron of hate" and another said he attempted to "rid the world of a harvest of sin." Prosecutor Jeremy Warren said, "The sin he focused on was homosexuality."

The guilty verdict came after an hour and a half of deliberation, and a life sentence after another 30 minutes. Mangum has also been ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. (The Advocate)

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