‘Ringleader’ In Gay Tourist Attack Surrenders
(Philipsburg, St. Maarten) The man described as the ringleader in the attack on two gay tourists from New York has surrendered to authorities in St. Maarten.
Under Dutch law the man’s identity will not be released until he goes to trial. Authorities would only say his nickname is “Duracell”.
That brings to four the number of people charged in the brutal beating of Richard Jefferson (pictured) and his friend Ryan Smith in April in the Dutch Caribbean resort.
Chief prosecutor Taco Stein said he believes all of those involved in the attack are now in custody. All four are residents of the French side of the island.
Jefferson, a senior producer for the CBS Nightly News and Smith, a producer-researcher for 48 Hours, were attacked as they left a popular bar in Phillipsburg after an altercation with a group of men who yelled homophobic epithets at them earlier in the night inside the club as Smith and his partner Justin Swensen shared a kiss.
Smith was hit by a car to knock him down. Four men jumped out of the vehicle and at least one started beating him with a tire iron. They then began beating Jefferson. Both victims sustained serious head wounds and were rushed to a local hospital. Once their conditions were stabilized CBS had them airlifted to a hospital in Miami. Swensen escaped injury.
Jefferson had a metal plate inserted in his skull, but has since returned to work in New York. Smith remains in Miami with neurological damage. He is suffering aphasia and is unable to speak properly.