Satendar Singh's death sent shock waves through Sacramento, which is reflected in the atmosphere in his vigil. The event wove together the fabric of Sacramento society, most from varying stations of life. Youtube video of the Singh's vigil is posted below.
What is disappointing that no Fiji contingent(irrespective of race) attended the vigil in an official capacity, probably because of the person's perceived sexual orientation.
Several news outlets covered the story, among the articles: Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, Fiji Live.
This video of the events before the attack was captured in released video from a CBS affiliate in Sacramento. Another perspective of the case was covered by KCRA an NBC affiliate, in a Youtube video posted below.
Both Prosecutor and Defense, argued that the video supported their version of events. Defense attorney avoided the term "Hate Crime" and according to her interview in the KCRA report likened Singh's assault, as a derivative of a drunken brawl.
The reason why the defense team is not denoting the term" Hate Crime" because it will open up doors for a Federal Court hearing which does not take "Hate Crimes" lightly and furthermore the penalties associated are more harsh and convicted felons must serve 85% of the prison term, as opposed to the State of California's "Determinate Sentencing" guidelines which allow a "judge broad discretion to select any sentence between two end points in the statutory range" according to Vikram Amar, a Professor of Law at University of California, Hastings College of Law at San Francisco in this legal analysis on a recent U.S Supreme Court case, which may close that particular window of discretion, afforded to the Judge.
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