The 19-year-old man who viciously stabbed Francisco Nascimento “in the heart” will walk away scot-free after being found “not guilty” of attempted murder by a Chester Crown Court jury.
Police believed the attack to be homophobic in nature because it happened on the city of Chester’s historic City Walls, a known cruising spot for gay men. According to a witness account, Floyd Evans stabbed his 35-year-old victim near the heart area after he pursued Nascimento and a friend for several minutes. Evans claimed he does not remember the attack because he was drunk.
Though Nascimento had survived the attack, responding paramedics say it was the quick thinking of his friend Gareth Davies that saved his life — the two ran met near the City Walls after a shopping trip at Tesco that evening. Davies reportedly applied direct pressure to the wound, and later helped identify Evans as the attacker.
The Chester Chronicle reports the details from inside the courtroom:
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The man [Evans] appeared to stop for a few minutes before turning round and coming back up the steps, which Mr Nascimento said was a signal commonly used by gay men at that spot.
The young man was wearing a hat and hoodie that covered that covered much of his face, and the victim said he felt ‘apprehensive’ about him the moment he saw him.
At one point he moved to show the side of his face, and Mr Nascimento was able to make direct eye contact with him.
He had thought the man was about to walk away when he was suddenly struck in the chest before the other man ran off in the direction of Northgate Street.
During his testimony in court, Evans said he had been out drinking at pubs and had taken some drugs previously that night. He claimed to have no recollection of the evening after doing some shopping at Tesco on his way home. “I’m sure I’d remember plunging a knife into someone,” he said.
Evans also testified that the attack could not have been homophobic in nature, because he “has no anti-gay views.” He told the court that “everyone is equal” and that his “brother is gay and I’m perfectly happy with that” — a statement later corroborated by his gay brother, who also testified in court.
The trial lasted five days and the jury took only three hours to decide that Evans was not guilty of attempted murder. He was later found guilty of “wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” and is due to be sentenced in May.
Nascimento is expected to make a full recovery, but has been left “mentally distraught” by the events that almost claimed his life.
Photo: Chester Chronicle
IvanPH
It says here that he is GUILTY:
Man guilty of Chester walls homophobic stabbing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26995956
Kye
@IvanPH: Actually, he was found guilty of one charge (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm) and not guilty of another (attempted murder). This article and the BBC one chose to emphasis different charges and their outcomes when choosing their headlines.
Also, the BBC article did not get into testimony in regards to the culprit’s views on us, but quotes a police officer involved in the case who says the police viewed it as a homophobic attack; whereas Queerty is including testimony from the trial.
EdWoody
As someone else commented elsewhere, the kid went to a place known as a gay cruising spot, wearing a hood and carrying a knife. What other possible conclusion is there to come to than he intended to harm a gay person?
Captain Obvious
Closeted gay teen lashes out at gay man because he secretly hates himself. Not exactly a new story, though the stabbing in the heart is beyond disturbing.
It’s interesting how easily white people get away with crimes though. I can’t help but think if his skin was anything but milky he’d be behind bars permanently or facing a death penalty.
It’s really scary how often the message heard round the world seems to be “Crime is ok if you’re white.” when it should be “Crime is not ok.”, do people really not see the trend here? What’s with all these slaps on the wrist?
He clearly intended to murder this man, it was premeditated, and being that he chose this guy I wouldn’t be surprised if something more had happened between them to lead up to it. Reminds me of what happened to Don Belton.
Dakotahgeo
Ol’ Floyd Evans will be a marked man all his life. I hope he enjoys his friendship with Bubba in prison. He may want to buy death/burial insurance before he enters and exits the local pokey!
Stache99
@Captain Obvious: I agree with you. I’ve seen this situation up close and personal. Same situation. Young white guy around the same age kills a 34 white gay guy for coming on to him.
This happened in San Francisco in 1999. He gets off scott free with some jury members even saying they’d let their own daughters date him. The defense can ALWAYS count on a jury’s homophobia when it involves someone that’s heterosexual, young, good looking, and white.
What the jury didn’t get to hear though was that Josh was not only gay himself but had severe mental problems. He’d been in and out of institutions. He was a violent thug too. He’d assaulted an elderly man in a robbery break in.
http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-01-13/news/panic-or-attack/
Stache99
I’m skeptical of this “I’m ok with the gays. My own brother is gay” story. Isn’t it possible that his defense came up with this story and his brother just went along with it. My Brother wouldn’t hesitate to do that for me.
formidible
This guy is a loner and serious risk to people. I can’t imagine how stabbing someone in the chest can be anything other than attempted murder. Its outrageous that he has been found guilty of the lesser charge of GBH. As for his gay brother, it says in the article that he had previously had a big row with him previously and had threatened to stab police. Read the full article here:
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/city-walls-stabbing-chester-teenager-6964741
formidible
The fact that he has been charged with GBH means that this websites attention-grabbing headlines are incorrect as he will not walk away scott-free. Nevertheless the outcome of the case is horrendous. I hope the victim is able to appeal whatever sentence this asshole gets.
luigibleu
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/17/us/texas-judge-eases-sentence-for-killer-of-2-homosexuals.html
Unfortunately, Bednarski made it out of jail alive.
Let’s hope Floyd Evans isn’t so lucky.
formidible
I don’t believe revenge is ever the answer.
coltonblack
What an unfortunate thing – and revenge really should not have been an option here. I also wonder about his quasi gay friendly comment. Seems sort of fake.
tjr101
I hope the victim files a civil lawsuit, this thug obviously has a history and the family (including the gay brother) is encouraging it.
Cee
I don’t care if he has a gay brother. My bro knows I like guys and he’s cool with it because I’m his brother. But I’m sure he would lose it if a gay guy made a pass at him just like a typical homophobe. This guy is sick. He went there with a knife and stabbed someone in the heart. He should have been charged with attempted murder. When you stab someone in the heart you don’t expect them to live. At the very least you don’t care if they do or don’t. Stop using drugs and alcohol as an excuse.
Cee
@Captain Obvious: lol You took the words out of my mind lol I thought about making a similar comment, but I left it alone. I hear about this kind of stuff too often. White people seem to get a pass that no one else does. Whether it’s in the workplace or in a park stabbing someone. That’s AmeriKKKa for you!