HARTFORD, Conn. -- A high school football player who pleaded guilty to the so-called 'gay bashing' of a Wethersfield man was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison.
Sean Burke, 18, wept uncontrollably before Superior Court Judge Raymond R. Norko imposed sentence, and he apologized for the killing of Richard Reihl, a crime police say was motivated in part by hatred of homosexuals.
'Life is not something you can just take away. Sorry isn't good enough. Right now that's all I can say, but I just want a chance to prove myself,' Burke said near the end of a 2 -hour court session.
Burke pleaded guilty Oct. 6 to murder and other charges stemming from Reihl's death and the robbery and beating of another man in West Hartford. A co-defendant, Marcos Perez, 17, also of Hartford, also has pleaded guilty and faces sentencing early next month.
The two youths were accused of bludgeoning Reihl to death on May 15, 1988, after the victim picked them up outside of a Hartford bar frequented by homosexuals and invited them to his Wethersfield home.
They allegedly taped his mouth with duct tape and beat him outside his condominium. When they returned to the scene later, allegedly to make sure Reihl was dead, Burke allegedly struck Reihl again with a fireplace log.
Burke entered the plea under the Alford doctrine in which he did not agree with all the facts presented by prosecutors but conceded he was likely to be convicted if tried.
Norko imposed a total effective sentence of 40 years for Burke after hearing emotional pleas from both the defendant's and victim's families.
Norko said testimony and documents showed 'two Mr. Burkes' -- one, a former high school football player and good student who did volunteer work, and the other, a teenager who with his friends had robbed and beaten homosexuals.
Noting descriptions praising Reihl for his work with youth and other accomplishments, the judge called Burke 'a person who has destroyed a wonderful life, a person, Sean, I wish you would have become, who you could have looked up to.'
Defense lawyer F. Mac Buckley had sought a 25-year basic sentence with additional terms that could be reduced if Burke proved himself in prison.
Buckley cited Burke's family background, including his father's time in prison and mother's alcoholism, the defendant's age and 'homophobia' among most young people.
Prosecutor Kevin McMahon argued for a 45-year term, saying Burke had bragged about killing Reihl and with his companions had found robbing homosexuals easy.
McMahon said Burke was involved in at least four other crimes and had spoken of forming a group known as the 'Reformers' who would assault homosexuals to get them to change their lifestyle.
