Teens "cruised for bums to attack" and killed homeless man

Prosecutor: Teens cruised for 'bums' to attack
Story Highlights
Florida trial begins in fatal 2006 beating of homeless man Norris Gaynor

Brian Hooks, 21, and Thomas Daugherty, 19, are charged with murder

Defense says pair just wanted to "mess with'" homeless

Surveillance video of baseball bat beating gained national attention

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) -- Two men charged with beating a homeless man to death and viciously attacking two others intended to kill because they repeatedly hit the victims in the head with baseball bats, a prosecutor said Thursday.

However, defense attorneys for the two men countered during opening arguments that their clients never meant to do serious harm that night.

Norris Gaynor, 45, was beaten to death in the 2006 rampage that received national attention after surveillance camera footage of one of the nonfatal attacks was widely broadcast. The images also helped lead detectives to defendants Brian Hooks, 21, and Thomas Daugherty, 19.

Prosecutor Peter Holden said Gaynor's skull was crushed and the other two homeless men were beaten in the head, key evidence in whether the attacks were premeditated.

"Every blow had an intended purpose," Holden said in the trial's opening statement.

Hooks and Daugherty face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. The trial is expected to last about four weeks.

The ferocity of the assaults shocked homeless advocates, who said the video showed the dangers faced every night by those living on the streets.

Holden said Daugherty and Hooks and two other youths were smoking marijuana and drinking vodka when they decided in the early morning hours of January 12, 2006, to go cruising and "beat up some bums" in Fort Lauderdale. He said Daugherty struck the most damaging blows to the men.
click post title for more