Eric Hunt, 22, charged with dragging Holocaust scholar Elie Wiesel from a hotel elevator apologized in court Monday to the Nobel laureate over the attack.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery, stalking, elder abuse and hate crimes following the February incident at San Francisco’s Argent Hotel.
The apology came in the midst of a hearing to determine whether Hunt, who originally pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but later changed his plea, should stand trial.
“Mr. Wiesel, I’m sorry for scaring you and I’m sorry you experienced the Holocaust,” Hunt said. “My grandfather fought the Nazis and I’m sorry about what happened.”
Wiesel did not respond.
His lawyer, San Francisco defense attorney John Runfola, said in an interview Monday that prosecutors had “overcharged” his client.
Source:
www.nbc11.com
www.nbc11.com
Date: August 13, 2007
