A real estate agent who attacked two homosexual men holding hands in Birmingham’s downtown was sentenced to prison.
In October 2021, Usman Murtza, age 31, confronted John-Paul Kesseler and Anthony Smith when he was standing next to his white Rolls Royce.
Not everyone wants to witness that, he informed the two.
Murtza then used a glass bottle to strike Mr. Kesseler in the face, severely gashing him.
He then wielded a metal bar at both of them before witnesses intervened and he drove away.
In a statement Mr Kesseler, a student, described his continuing anger at the fact he and his friend were attacked ‘because of who we are, queer men’.
He branded Murtza an ignorant homophobe and described the look on his face at the time as the ‘purest distillation of hatred I have ever seen’.
Mr Kesseler said his studies had suffered since the attack and said: ‘I am apoplectic someone had the freedom to spout hate because of their ignorance.’
He added: ‘The defendant saw us holding hands and couldn’t contain the hate he had for us. It was the purest distillation of hatred I have ever seen.’
Mr Smith said he no longer felt safe holding his current partner’s hand in public or leaving gay bars and clubs in Birmingham.
Murtza, from Victoria Road, Tipton, said he was ‘unreservedly sorry and ashamed’.
The married father told Birmingham Crown Court had gay friends himself, and said he could empathise with the victims because of the similar hostility which came with being Asian.
In a letter, Murtza said: ‘I would like to offer my very sincere apologies to John-Paul Kesseler and Anthony Smith for my stupid and dangerous behaviour.
‘I’m sorry you were the victims of my behaviour and I’m sorry you were injured as a result and you will remember everything that evening from the moment I interrupted you
‘I am not proud of what I did. My parents are struggling to show support. I am unreservedly sorry and ashamed.’
He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.
He was sentenced to 16 months in jail. The punishment had to be uplifted to account for the homophobic nature of the attack.
Recorder Paul McGrath concluded he would not suspend the sentence and said: ‘This was a persistent offence aggravated by the demonstration of hostility towards sexual orientation and it had a significant effect on two innocent victims.
‘I don’t feel appropriate punishment can be achieved with a suspended sentence.’