Testimony continued Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of luring a gay Brooklyn man to his death during a robbery.
Prosecutors have said 21-year-old Anthony Fortunato was one of four men who lured 29-year-old Michael Sandy to Plum Beach last October to rob him after meeting him on the Internet.
However, Sandy fled after allegedly being punched and was fatally struck by a vehicle on the Belt Parkway.
On Monday, Fortunato's defense attorney said his client could not be charged with murder as a hate crime because Fortunato is gay. According to Gerald DiChiara, Fortunato was living a double life and intended to tell his friends that night that he is homosexual.
John Fox is also being tried along with Fortunato for the crime. Prosecutors say a third man will be tried separately. The fourth suspect is cooperating with authorities.
AP wire reports contributed to this story.
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