Spa shootings could be first test of Georgia hate crimes law

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The murder case against a white man accused of shooting and killing six women of Asian descent and two other people at an Atlanta-area massage businesses could become the first big test for Georgia’s new hate crimes law.

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But, like many states, the Georgia lawlast summer does not provide for a standalone hate crime, instead allowing an additional penalty when a person is convicted of another crime.

A hate crime charge can be included in an indictment or added at some point before trial. If a jury convicts the defendant of the underlying crime, prosecutors can present evidence for a hate crime sentencing enhancement. Defense attorneys can present their own evidence, and the jury deliberates again. If jurors find it’s a hate crime, there is a mandatory enhancement of at least two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for a felony.

Wallace said in a statement that she can’t answer specific questions about the case but that she is “acutely aware of the feelings of terror being experienced in the Asian-American community.” A representative for Willis did not respond to requests for comment. “It is important that the law calls things what they are,” he said. “It’s important for victims, and it’s important for society.”

In addition to sending a message to the community, it’s important for the new law to be used for legal reasons, Georgia State University law professor Tanya Washington said. While police have said it’s too soon to tell whether the spa shootings qualify as a hate crime, she said it seems obvious the violence was motivated by bias given the people and businesses targeted.

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STOP 'Two other people' HATE!!!!!!

“Accused” nah “committed”

If this crime is prosecuted under HateCrimeBill then ALL crimes where one race is committing violence against another should be a HateCrime. Then explain how any crime is not a hate crime? Would crimes be committed if people were full of love in their heart? 🤔 asianhate

So instead of 8 life sentences he will get 16?

Not surprised by the increase bc Trump, media (Trump or main) kept harping for months. I just thought most Asian’s prioritized materialism and therefore supported the Republican Party, especially the Chinese. In school, the Chinese always befriended the whites over others.

“And two other people”

The left want to push false claims of hate crimes and racism because they know that our sick over sexualized culture that they promote is the real culprit.

Stop 'two other people' Hate!

The left wants this to be a hate crime so bad they can taste it. Even though all evidence and statements so far make it obvious that this is a sex-crazed maniac with a thing for Asian women. The left’s favorite currency is racism.

eww yuck, dont refer to tem as ''two other people'', what the heck.

Only a white male can kill 8 woman and not be charged with a hate crime

The motive was not Asian hate, it was sexual revenge

The police said it wasn’t racially motivated after interviewing the murderer. Please stop pushing this divisive theme.

I mean it's Georgia.

Bet he won't get the death penalty.

All murders are hate crimes!

Literally 25% of the people he shot weren't Asian. The guy had a sex addiction and said his motive was that the massage parlers were a temptation for him. He didn't stop shooting when there were two white women working, because race wasn't the motive. Stop racism-mongering, AP.

es, SAY HER NAME. It's Ashli Babbitt.

Is gender violence only a crime when we are talking about transwomen? Killing ciswomen because they are women is still a hate crime against humanity which basically zero people on Twitter seem to readily comprehend. CNN AC360

It’s interesting how it seems to go under everyone’s radar that the shooter admitted to killing them bc they are women (which he blames his sex addiction on)- AND THAT KILLING SOMEONE BC OF THEIR GENDER IS ALSO A HATE CRIME.

Death penalty either way

I read a more thorough and researched written report on this horrific crime by a reputable journalist on another media outlet. Not this one written by some person.

That's part of the south for you. SMFH.

Except it wasn’t racially motivated. He was sleeping with Asian women, but he hated them? C’mon. Have you ever seen a KKK member sleep with a black person? No, you haven’t. When you “hate” someone, you don’t want to have anything to do with them. This is getting absurd.

Come on, y'all. He was having a bad day.😒

And two other people? I’m sure their families like it when their murdered loved ones are just a footnote.

Were these legal operation or we not talkin about that...🤷🏾‍♂️

STOP THE RACE-BAITING! Even the FBI says these horrible killings did not appear to be racially motivated!

I live in Gs & depending how they fight I wil either move out of Ga or stay!

So I guess those 'two other people' were white people, correct? I've only seen these mentioned once. Don't they deserve attention as well?

GEORGIA BRAKING EVERY HUMANITIES COURSE OF RULES ON PURPOSE I LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS IT TRUE THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA ARE THAT STUPID NOT TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU ANYWHERE IF YOU ARE RACIST YOU WILL JUST ESCALATE AND CONFUS AND DISGUST YOUR COMMUNITY

He will obviously be convicted for this unspeakable crime but the wrath he will have to face with his 1on 1 with the good lord when we ALL have to face GOD is what REALLY matters here. My prayers to the families 🙏🙏

Its a hate crime.

AP is a joke. Not a serious news organization

Those poor “ two other people” will be forgotten..only because they aren’t Asian

You can tell whoever wrote this headline rolled their eyes when they typed “and two other people”

'Two other people'

Donald Trump promoted the hatred towards Asians. Republicans did nothing to stop 🛑 Trump.

he literally said race was not a factor

The guy was addicted to happy endings

The 2 'other people' are whites but doesn't fit the narration. I agree the media keeps racism alive for their selfish benefit.

And they are trying to figure out if it was a hate crime. What does it take to end this in america?

I love the “and two other people”. Sorry two dead folks, your lack of diversity earns you a “meh”.

Murder is a crime, hate or no hate. If someone hates someone else, but does not murder them, no crime. If someone murders someone else, but doesn’t hate them, a crime. Let’s not complicate things.

In 1968, Richard Nixon committed one of the most vile acts in the history of American politics by appealing to disgruntled segregationists in order to win his presidential campaign. Fifty-three years later, we are now witnessing how vile Nixon's act still is within the GOP.

“Two other people” WTF? I get it’s media we suddenly care about Asians week, but this is laughable

He frequented those three massage parlors. He had no problem getting happy endings from those women. How racist of him.

Two other people...

Seems like it's not very consequential. He's going to be guilty of 8 murders probably not much change in the sentence if it's a hate crime or not and therefore not much difference in deterrence. Also isn't the most likely outcome some plea agreement, he's already admitted to it.

Director of the FBI has stated it wasn’t a racial attack

Who are the other 2 persons?😂😂😂😂

'two other people' jesus christ. just say white women.. wait no thats against your agenda.

Still zero evidence this had anything to do with race, but you keep the FakeNews going.

SMH at all these comments siding with the fucking murder.

Only one victim was young enough to be a ‘temptation’ for the shooter. Can we talk about this as a racially motivated hate crime now?

It had nothing to do with race stop trying to cause division.

And yet ...

'two other people' They don't matter? They don't fit the narrative?

“...and two other people.” How disrespectful. “Two other people who we can’t utilize for the narrative, thus inconsequential afterthoughts.”

.....massage parlors.

What Darwin was too polite to say, my friends, is that we came to rule the earth not because we were the smartest, or even the meanest, but because we have always been the craziest, most murderous motherfuckers in the jungle. -- Stephen King

Evangelicals will come to his aid

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The first opportunity to abuse it to pander to wokes

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