The Audiencia Provincial de Bizkaia has sentenced eleven attackers to up to two years in prison for a homophobic pack assault on Ekain Perrino in 2021. The victim appreciates the recognition of a hate crime but calls the penalty "laughable" and insufficient, assuming no one will serve time. He also deems the compensation too low.
The Audiencia Provincial de Bizkaia issued a sentence for the homophobic assault on June 6, 2021, in Basauri against local youth Ekain Perrino. Ten of the eleven accused received two years in prison and one a year and two months for a hate crime committed as a "pack" shouting "maricón" while brutally beating the victim.
In addition to prison terms, the court imposed fines totaling 1,710 euros, bans on communication and approach to Perrino, and joint compensation of 6,000 euros for moral damage and 350 euros for civil liability.
Ekain Perrino, in statements to EiTB reported by Europa Press, voiced disappointment: "I expected a fair sentence, not like this one," which he calls "insufficient, laughable." He added that "two years in prison is like asking for nothing because they won't go in" and regretted that "nobody denounces people like that and they'll get away with it."
Perrino appreciates that all accused were convicted but stresses the compensation does not cover his parents' expenses for treatments and support over these years.
