Prosecutors announced Thursday they are dropping one of five hate crime cases related to a beating last year in Pompano Beach that left a gay man partially blind.
Oleh “Alex” Makarenko, 21, was allegedly in a 9-month relationship with the victim. Officers accused him, his parents, Innah and Yevhen Makarenko; and his two brothers, Vladyslav and Pavel “Paul” Makarenko, of attacking the man.
Prosecutors dropped the case against Vladyslav Makarenko, 25, after defense attorneys provided evidence that he wasn’t in town when officers said the attack happened.
Attorney Mike Glasser, who is representing a defendant, said this likely means the other cases will be dropped too.
“This entire case is based around one person’s word in identifying the alleged perpetrators,” Glasser said adding, “If the entire case rests on one person’s word and that person’s word has been shown to be probably unreliable, I think it’s very compelling as it relates to the other four.”
Officers arrested the Makarenkos, Ukrainian refugees with pending asylum applications, on March 10.
They face charges of attempted first-degree murder, battery during the burglary of a dwelling, and kidnapping with a hate crime enhancement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on Innah, Yevhen, and Pavel Makarenko. Glasser expects ICE will drop the hold on Vladyslav Makarenko and release him soon.
Advocates for the Makarenkos family set up a Change.org petition.
Continue reading...
Oleh “Alex” Makarenko, 21, was allegedly in a 9-month relationship with the victim. Officers accused him, his parents, Innah and Yevhen Makarenko; and his two brothers, Vladyslav and Pavel “Paul” Makarenko, of attacking the man.
Prosecutors dropped the case against Vladyslav Makarenko, 25, after defense attorneys provided evidence that he wasn’t in town when officers said the attack happened.
Attorney Mike Glasser, who is representing a defendant, said this likely means the other cases will be dropped too.
“This entire case is based around one person’s word in identifying the alleged perpetrators,” Glasser said adding, “If the entire case rests on one person’s word and that person’s word has been shown to be probably unreliable, I think it’s very compelling as it relates to the other four.”
Officers arrested the Makarenkos, Ukrainian refugees with pending asylum applications, on March 10.
They face charges of attempted first-degree murder, battery during the burglary of a dwelling, and kidnapping with a hate crime enhancement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on Innah, Yevhen, and Pavel Makarenko. Glasser expects ICE will drop the hold on Vladyslav Makarenko and release him soon.
Advocates for the Makarenkos family set up a Change.org petition.
Continue reading...
