PLEA BARGAIN IGNORES HATE CRIME IN MURDER N.H. LAOTIAN AMERICAN

by Chi Chi Wu
6/15/02

We are asking all concerned Asian Pacific Americans to contact the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office to express their outrage at a plea bargain struck in the murder of a Laotian American man (see previously posted article), Thung Phetakoune.  Phetakoune, an elderly man, was brutally killed by Richard Labbe in a clear and shocking case of hate crime.   After attacking Phetakoune, Labbe stated to a police officer investigating the crime, "[Referring to the Vietnam War] What's going on is that those Asians killed Americans and you won't do anything about it so I will."

The NH AG's office had initially charged Labbe with both second degree murder and a hate crime.  In a last minute deal struck yesterday (the case was supposed to go to trial on Monday), the NH AG's office  agreed to a plea bargain of manslaughter.   What is most outrageous, however, is that the NH AG's Office has dropped the hate crime charge, despite unmistakable evidence that this brutal murder was racially motivated.

The Asian Pacific American community cannot let this go by silently.  We must make our voices heard.  Please call or email the NH AG's office to express your outrage at this plea bargain, which is a slap in the face of our community and sends a horrible signal about how law enforcement treats hate crimes against Asians.  Note that this is happening 20 years, almost to the date, after Vincent Chin's murder.

To contact the Office NH AG Philip McLaughlin, call 603-271-3658 or email websmaster@doj.state.nh.us.  For more information on this case, you can contact me.

Thung Phetakoune

Richard Labbe