Oct 17, 2007 11:44 pm US/Eastern
Hate Crime Charges Dropped In Haulover Attack
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HAULOVER (CBS4) ―
Prosecutors plan to drop hate crime charges against several young men arrested in connection with an alleged beating of a black Florida International University student during a late-night brawl between teenagers last month.
The Miami Herald reports that they made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at a Miami-Dade County community relations board meeting.
The victim, freshman Stephen Barrett, 18, told prosecutors he never felt the teenager who used a supposed racial slur targeted him because he is black.
That Asian-American teen, whose name was not released, uttered the word ''nigga'' more as a hip-hop cultural slang than racial insult, prosecutors believe, making it difficult to prove it was a hate crime.
According to police, the incident occurred Sept. 23 when Barrett and two pals were returning from a keg party on an island off Haulover Park Marina. On the way back, the boat was too crowded and the operator told some people to get off. The teenager, known as Chino, yelled out at Barrett ''Nigga get off the boat, nigga'' and swung at Barrett, who swung back, Barrett told prosecutors.
Words were exchanged. Someone yelled that they should fight one on one.
Barrett and his pals got off the boat and 15 minutes later, the teenagers were at the marina waiting. A series of brawls broke out, but authorities now say no one ever tried to drown Barrett.
Barret has been released from Aventura Hospital were he was taken with a stiff neck while his two friends were also beaten with a baseball bat spoke to one of his friends who said it was a terrifying experience.
((© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this repo)
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