Judge rebukes suspects in beating of disabled man

Associated Press

CHICAGO

A judge rebuked four black people accused of beating a mentally disabled white man and broadcasting the attack on Facebook, sternly asking, “Where was your sense of decency?” before denying their attorneys’ pleas to set bail so they might be released from jail.

The beating was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and has since been viewed millions of times on social media. The footage shows the suspects taunting the victim with profanities against white people and Donald Trump.

Prosecutors offered new details of the assault, explaining one of the suspects demanded $300 from the mother of the victim, who is schizophrenic and has attention-deficit disorder. They also said the beating started in a van when the same attacker became angry the mother had contacted him asking that her son be allowed to come home.

The four are charged with two counts of committing a hate crime – one because of the victim’s race and the other because of his mental disabilities.