NEW YORK -- An 18-year-old white youth was convicted of manslaughter instead of murder in the fatal mob beating of a black man on a Brooklyn street.
'They let him off with nothing!' a black man shouted after the verdict Tuesday night.
Gino Bova of Brooklyn was held today in 'extreme protective custody' in a Rikers Island prison unit originally designed for Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's convicted killer, said Correction Department spokesman Edward Hershey.
The unit is used for prisoners whose crimes might leave them vulnerable to reprisals from other inmates.
The jury of eight men and four women -- 11 of them white and one Hispanic -- deliberated for 14 hours over two days. Bova also was convicted of riot, assault and violation of civil rights, but was acquitted of second-degree murder in the June 22 fatal beating of black Transit Authority worker Willie Turks, 34.
'I love you, Mom!' the muscular teenager shouted as he was led away in handcuffs.
'I love you, Gino,' replied his weeping mother, Vivian.
Turks' mother refused to talk to reporters outside the courtroom.
'I have nothing to say,' she told them before fainting.
Bova was charged with fatally beating Turks outside a bagel shop by hitting him on the head with a stick during an attack on Turks and two other black men by a gang of whites.
After the verdict was announced, spectators, including Bova's family and girlfriend and Turks' mother and sister, sat silently in the crowded courtroom.
Justice Sybil Hart Kooper then ordered the muscular teenager to jail.
'Death to the Klan!' a white woman yelled. 'Stop racist murder!'
About six demonstrators chanting similar slogans outside the courthouse shouted loudly at Ms. Kooper as she left the building.
Sentencing was set for March 31. Second-degree manslaughter carries a sentence of five to 15 years. If convicted of second-degree murder, Bova would have faced 15 years to life.
'The jury found that Gino Bova was guilty of killing Willie Turks in the course of a race riot,' said Brooklyn District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman.
'The significance of this verdict cannot be underestimated. It means a racially motivated homicide will not be tolerated in Brooklyn.'
Defense lawyer Paul Callan said, 'I'm extremely pleased ... The Bovas are very pleased with the verdict but not pleased that their son is going to jail.' He said Bova would appeal.
In his summation, prosecutor Andrew Plump said, 'It's clear that racial hatred was the motivation.'
Callan insisted Bova was trying to help another teenager, Paul Mormondo, who was losing the fight against Turks.
Mormondo faces trial on charges of murder, assault, riot and violations of the state Civil Rights law.
Turks and two co-workers were attacked by a gang of whites last June 22 as they were leaving a store.
