A 67-year-old Indian-origin nurse Leelamma Lal was brutally assaulted by a psychiatric patient at Palms West Hospital in Florida, leaving her with severe facial fractures, reported local news channel WPBF.
Authorities arrested 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, charging him with attempted second-degree murder with hate crime enhancements due to racist remarks made during the attack.
As per the arrest affidavit quoted by WPBF, “Scantlebury was a psychiatric patient on a Baker Act hold”, which means he was hospitalised involuntarily after a mental health crisis.
Scantlebury allegedly confessed, “Indians are bad. I just beat the s*** out of an Indian doctor,” leading prosecutors to apply hate crime enhancements, which could increase his penalties if convicted.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff라이브 바카라 Office explained, “Hate crime enhancements, if proven, can result in harsher penalties upon conviction. They highlight the motive behind the defendant라이브 바카라 actions and their broader impact on the community.”
Lal is currently in intensive care at St. Mary라이브 바카라 Medical Centre, with authorities warning that she may lose the use of both eyes due to the severity of her injuries.
