Four arrested in Vancouver gay bashings

From CBC News:

Four people have been arrested in connection with two separate incidents in Vancouver in which gay men were assaulted and in which the victims' sexual orientation might have been a factor, police say.

Parminder Singh Peter Bassi, 30, is charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm and his brother Ravinder Robbie Bassi, 27, is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm in connection with a June 12 incident.

Vancouver police Const. Jana McGuinness announced the charges at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Alleged victims David Holtzman and Peter Regier (above) told police they'd returned to their East Vancouver residence after an evening out and found two men outside their home. One was drinking beer and the other was urinating against the house, Regier said.

The victims asked the man to stop and they say that's when both men started punching them repeatedly while taunting them with homophobic slurs.

Regier and Holtzman were treated in hospital for cuts and bruises and released.

Police desribed the incident as a possible hate crime and appealed for the public's help in identifying two men whose pictures were captured on surveillance cameras as they fled the area.

The two accused were arrested at a home in Richmond Wednesday.

They have been released until their next court appearance July 5 and must abide by several court-imposed restrictions. Police did not discuss the details of the restrictions.

Separate incident July 1

Two other men face charges of aggravated assault in connection with a violent attack on a 30-year-old Vancouver man near Davie Street and Burrard Street early Thursday.

The attack is also being investigated as a possible hate crime, McGuinness said.

The victim told police he was repeatedly punched by two men after exchanging words on the street with a group of men and women at about 2:45 a.m. PT.

Disparaging remarks about the victim's sexual orientation were made during the attack, McGuinness said.

The attackers fled the scene but were arrested about one block away moments later, she said.

The victim suffered facial injuries that were treated by paramedics at the scene.

Charged with assault causing bodily harm are Alexandre Tchernychev, 21, and Aaron Alexander Hahn, 21, both of Vancouver.