ABOVE: Luis Alonso-Piovet, Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, Adonis Diaz and Juan C. Lopez. Photos via SFGN/Miami-Dade corrections.
The May 5 trial of four men accused of attacking a gay couple in 2018 after the closing festivities of Miami Beach Pride has been postponed. As of now there is no new trial date.
There was supposed to be a status hearing April 23, but it’s been rescheduled for June 8. The case is now more than two years old.
“Although we are all working remotely, our prosecutors continue to work up their cases so that there is minimal, if any, delay in proceedings when things are back to normal,” a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office said.
The four defendants — Adonis Diaz, Juan Carlos Lopez, Luis Alonso Piovet, and Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa — all in their early 20s, have pleaded not guilty.
The trial was supposed to start May 5.
As the trial continues to be delayed one of the victims is growing increasingly frustrated.
“I am so tired of it,” Dmitry Logunov, 34, told SFGN when the trial was delayed in January. “I want it to be over.”
The attack took place when Rene Chalarca, 34, and Logunov were leaving a public bathroom in Lummus Park in Miami Beach on April 8, 2018.
“We were walking and holding hands and needed to use the bathroom,” Logunov told SFGN in 2018. The two of them stopped at a public restroom as they headed home for the evening.
As Logunov walked out of the restroom he was allegedly called a “faggot” in Spanish, punched and then beaten unconscious. His boyfriend at the time, Chalarca, quickly intervened, but three more men jumped in and began to attack them both.
“This was my first time going to a gay parade,” Chalarca said in 2018. Physically they’ve both recovered.
The attack was caught on camera and the four suspects have been charged with three counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime enhancement was added to the charges.
A third person, Helmut Estrada, attempted to assist Chalarca and Logunov and was also attacked during the altercation and injured.
Estrada was later given an award from the City Commission for his bravery.
“Helmut’s efforts helped stop the attack but not before he himself was injured requiring a visit to the hospital and staples in his scalp,” Miami Beach City Commissioner Michael Gongora said at the time. “The City of Miami Beach Medallion is a special honor usually reserved for acts of bravery, heroism and other significant contributions to our city. Helmut’s selfless act of defense warrants this honor and his stepping up and doing the right thing is even more special since he is straight and helped defend two gay victims from an attack related to their sexuality.”
Read more at South Florida Gay News.
