UPDATE ON STEPHEN MOLLER'S SENTENCING
Greenville, SC -Stephen Moller, who murdered Sean William Kennedy on May 16th 2007,
was sentenced June 11th to a 5 year suspended sentence to 3 years with 3 years probation after he gets out of jail.
He will spend approx. 10 months in jail. After which he is then entitled to parole.
If granted he will be on probation for 3 years. He was also sentenced to 30 days community service
and ordered to take anger management classes. In addition he was ordered to have alcohol and drug counseling.
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Elke Kennedy, Sean's mother held a press conference after the hearing. Here is her statement:
I want to thank you all for being here today. You have followed the story since Sean's violent murder last year and I appreciate it.
There was no justice today for my son Sean.
The sentence that Stephen Moeller received is a joke and a slap on the wrist.
Once again it proves that in the state of SC there is no justice for the victim, especially for a victim of a senseless, violent, bias motivated crime.
I understand that the judge had to sentence according to the plea agreement and the existing restrictions in the law, but that does not make this any easier!
Our judicial system is a joke and it is trying to make you believe that it is there to assure justice. Decisions are made by the solicitor instead of judges and jury's.
Like in Sean's case, nobody will ever hear the evidence and all the facts like the voice mail because it was plea bargained by the solicitor, who has only met with me on time almost 10 month ago.
In essence when the solicitor plea bargains any case, are they not really working for the defendant instead of the victim? Most pleas benefit only the defendant because it results in a lesser charge.
In fact, I believe that Sean's case has been mishandled from the beginning
Getting the investigation started - we had to initiate the securing of evidence -sheriffs deputies did not take it serious.
Our Solicitors got a lot of pressure about the case, received weekly phone calls from our SC senators from Washington and from congress man Inglis himself.
Do any of you know of another local case that our Senators and congressman would be that interested in? I don't!
Furthermore, our officials have known about the 25 year gap in our laws and have not done anything about it! When asked why there was this gap I was told that nobody had ever complained.
Well this mother has and will continue to do so.
Bob Arial stated last October that involuntary manslaughter charge and the maximum time with that is not enough in the case of Sean's Murder, but that is all they could do according to the existing law!
Our solicitor invited me to help him change these laws - Mr. Arial - I am here, I am willing and I demand that we change these laws.
So moving forward we must identify the gaps, educate the public and we must demand all inclusive laws in our state that will protect all human beings.
We need to be able to identify bias motivated crimes and be able to report them.
Remember, this is an election year - you can make a difference!
My son was violently murdered because of hate and as his mother I wanted justice. This could have happened to anybodies son, daughter, brother, sister, etc.
My family will never be the same, a big part of our lives has been ripped out of our hearts and we are all struggling through Birthdays', holiday's, etc.
"No mother should ever have to bury her child, No mother should ever have to lose her child to violence and hate, No mother should ever have to fight to see justice for her child!"
A mother’s story - what happened to Sean
What happened-
On May 16, 2007, at about 3:45 am, Sean was leaving a local bar in Greenville when a car pulled up beside him, a young man got out of the car, came around the car approached my son and called him fagot and then punched him so hard that it broke his face bones, he fell back and hit the asphalt. This resulted in his brain to be separated from his brain stem and ricochet in his head. Sean never had a chance. Sean’s killer got back into the car and left my son dying there.
A little later he left a message on one of the girl’s phone, who knew Sean saying: “You tell your fagot friend that when he wakes up he owes me $500 for my broken hand”.
Sean knew at an early age that he was different. He did not let others know until he was about 17 years old and in high school. One day, after he had just told a few of his friends that he was gay, he came out of school to find the word “Fag” carved into the side of his truck. He was mad and it shock him up but I think it was then that he decided that he would not live in fear - he was going to live life and be there for others.
After that he told me that he was gay. He said: Mom if you don’t want to love me any more, I’ll understand. I told him that there is nothing he could ever do to make me stop loving him.
I can’t help but remember my son as a person who had a love for life and people and an irresistible smile to go with his personality. Sean loved everybody regardless of whom or what they believed in or stood for. He never judged but was always there to help people, either by listening or giving them whatever they needed (food, a place to stay, clothes, etc)
After his death I found out just how many people Sean had a positive impact on. There were over 700 people at his memorial service.
He was a leader, kind and non-judging, caring and compassionate and loved by so many. He was happy of who he was and stood up for what he believed in. He had reached all the dreams and hopes this mother could ask for and he accomplished this in only 20 years.
Elke Kennedy (Sean’s Mother)
Sean William Kennedy
Sean was born on April 8, 1987 in Charleston, SC. As the youngest of three children, it was obvious from the beginning that he held the potential to be something great. Even as a child, he had an irresistible smile to go with the personality big enough to light up any room. He was never judging, and accepted people from all walks of life. Sean was a simple person who left footprints in the hearts of everyone he touched, just one of his many gifts.
Sean’s life was tragically taken on May 16, 2007. He was attacked when he was alone in a parking lot and no one was around to help him.
One of Sean’s last gifts was the gift of life. By donating his vital organs, Sean helped save the lives of 5 people. We hope that his loss will bring positive light into people’s hearts and he can continue to help people through his death as he did in his life. We hope you learn from Sean’s life and take him with you throughout your life experiences.
Volunteer to help with Sean’s Last Wish
How to assist the Foundation.
Some people have expressed an interest in volunteering to assist the Sean’s Last Wish Foundation. If you would like to contribute yourself to the cause, please send an email to:seanslastwish@yahoo.com. Be sure to include:
-Name
-Address
-Phone Number
-Email Address
-A brief description of what services you are willing to provide.
Casting Stones
A poem against hate, by Suzy Tuske, 6/25/2007
Casting Stones
We all swore we would remember…
The lives lost on that date
911 would always be
The day America witnessed hate
We huddled close to our families
Never knowing hate before
But then we vowed to take a stand
Against terror in our door
So, tell me what the difference is?
Right here in our own state
Why should the courts be lenient
When the crime resounds of hate
From the bullies in our schoolyards
To the inmates on death row
Is our message loud and clear
For all to hear and know?
No matter what your religion or race
Your sexual orientation
The homeless and disabled
You are welcome in our nation
WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUALLY
And none deserve to die
With the face of evil the last they see
Before they close their eyes
Make the penalty match the crime
Get the Governor on the phone
We are all equal but different still…
Now who will cast the first stone?
by Suzy Tuske, 6/25/2007
Sean Kennedy on Congressional Record
On May 22, Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon read the events of Sean’s attack and death into the Congressional Record. This was in support of the Matthew Shepard Act.
Sen. Gordon Smith [R-OR]:
“Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
On May 18, 2007, in Greenville, SC, Sean Kennedy was beaten by an unnamed man which resulted in his death. Kennedy, a gay man, was punched in the face and knocked to the ground where he sustained injuries to his head. Kennedy died of his injuries later that night at a local hospital. The attacker was later brought into custody and charged with murder. Because Kennedy was attacked while leaving a gay bar and the attacker used anti-gay epithets, the Greenville County Sheriff turned the case over to the FBI for investigation as a hate crime.
I believe that the Government’s first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Matthew Shepard Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.”
May 22, 2007
Read the article from GovTrack.
Sean’s Last Wish
"Sean’s Last Wish" by Suzy Tuske
Sean. Beautiful young man
Your demise has touched our hearts
There must have been a wondrous plan
For God chose you to play the part
This sad and bitter world
Is due a wake-up call
We saw the snarling jaws of hate
And you dear, took the fall
Your spirit all encompassing
Cries out for all to know
We will join hands, your song to sing
And vow to never let this go
We must cast light on your purpose
Lest it all have been in vain
Today you have our promise
From you, this world has much to gain
I see pure determination
There. . . in your Mother’s eyes
Your last wish will know realization
On this you can rely
Written by a dear friend:
Suzy Tuske
May 2007
Contact Us
If you would like to contact Sean’s family, please e-mail us at:seanslastwish@yahoo.com
or write to:
Sean’s Last Wish
PO Box 5697
Greenville, SC 29606