Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 19, 1990                   TAG: 9005190105
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

ACCUSED LEADER IN RACIAL SLAYING ACQUITTED OF MURDER

The partial acquittal of Keith Mondello, 19, sparked a courtroom outburst by relatives of the 16-year-old victim in the case, which had inflamed racial tensions in the city.

A jury that deliberated 11 days convicted Mondello on lesser charges of riot, unlawful imprisonment, discrmination, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

On Thursday, a separate jury had convicted Joseph Fama, 19, who was accused of firing the fatal shot, of second-degree murder in the death of Yusuf Hawkins.

Confusion reigned in the courtroom as the verdict was read. Michael Mondello, father of the defendant, repeatedly shouted, "Thank God! Thank God! Jesus has risen!"

On the other side of the aisle, relatives and supporters of the Hawkins family screamed, pointed at the jurors and shouted threats.

Two people were ejected from the courtroom for their outbursts.

The most serious charges of which Mondello was convicted, riot and unlawful imprisonment, carry jail terms of one and one-third to four years.

Fama faces 25 years to life on his conviction. Others of the group are scheduled for trial later.

The killing took place Aug. 23, when Hawkins and three black friends ventured into the predominantly white neighborhood of Bensonhurst looking for a used car. They were beaten by a mob of whites wielding baseball bats, and Hawkins was shot to death.

The killing fueled accusations of bigotry, and the trial, which coincided with several other racially divisive incidents, heightened tension to the point Mayor David Dinkins went on television to appeal for calm.

In his closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Paul Burns said Mondello organized the white mob that stalked the black youths, encircled Hawkins and left him dying on the street after he was shot.

But defense attorney Stephen Murphy maintained Mondello and the other whites didn't intend to hurt Hawkins. He said the gunman acted independently.

The defense contended the mob formed because of rumors a group of blacks and Hispanics was coming to the neighborhood looking for a fight, and the youths mistook Hawkins and his friends for the outsiders.