Hate Crime Murder Suspect "Never Expected Anyone to Die"

Suspect Keith Phoenix, left; murder victim Jose Sucuzhanay, right

Keith Phoenix, who was charged with killing an Ecuadorian immigrant last December, has given an interview from Rikers Island to the Daily News. He told the paper, "I'm not a killer. I never expected anyone to die."

Police says that Phoenix and his friend Haikim Scott allegedly beat Jose Sucuzhanay to death with a baseball bat, after seeing Sucuzhanay, a real estate broker in Brooklyn, and his brother arm-in-arm on a street (the brothers were reportedly tipsy after a night of drinking). The suspects also allegedly yelled anti-gay epithets at the brothers. After Phoenix was arrested on Friday, Police Commissioner Kelly said that he confessed, telling cops, "So I killed someone—that makes me a bad guy?...What's the big deal? The guy's dead."

Now Phoenix explains his self-defense defense to the Daily News—"I had to protect myself"—claiming he saw that Sucuzhany was carrying a gun (a claim the police dispute). Phoenix, driving an SUV, also said Sucuzhanay cursed at him and kicked his vehicle. He said he had no idea the victim was dead until the cops told him, "Dead? Dead? If I knew he was dead I would have been going crazy. I have remorse for the death.... I looked at it as just a street fight that went bad."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 2, 2009 11:20 AM

Comments [rss]

everyAframe

He never expected anyone to die? Okay, you're a killer and an idiot, the court has noted it.

Another fcking rocket scientist.

Funny thing about skulls: crush 'em with bats, people die.

Think2wice

We just thought dat we could, um, beat the gay out o' him. Y'know-wot'am-sayin', like set him straight, y'know.

jonathan

I have an idea for a new blog. "Stuff criminals and their families say to justify their obvious guilt"

Spirit of 76

If there is a God, this is one Phoenix who won't be rising from the ashes.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

I'm guessing that the fact that the victim was Latino is the only reason why we haven't heard the "But he called me a N*****!" defense. Also, if he didn't intend to kill anyone, why the baseball bat?

ANGRYGOD11

Yes, the baseball bat. The only reasons to carry one in the dead of winter is to start trouble, avoid trouble and go to a batting cage. Since he's riding in an SUV and batting cages are closed at that time, I'm guessing option 1 is the clear winner.

fuboy

"So I killed someone—that makes me a bad guy?" I don't really know where to start on this one.

Obviously, yes it does, but how does a person get so far in life not knowing that murder is a bad thing? Yeah, I can say it's from horrible parenting, a lack of respect for others, but how can a society let someone with such warped values roam the street for so long?

Here's hoping that he never gets out of prison.

CR

What we're all over looking here is the fact that Sucuzhanay kicked Phoenix's car. In Phoenix's mind his ride is likely the most important thing in the world and if someone kicks it you have every right to get out and assault them - kill them if you must.