American gets jail term for attack on Indian taxi driver

Silicon Valley: A 21-year-old American, who attacked a Sikh taxi driver and called him an “Iraqi terrorist,” has been awarded nine months in jail for the hate crime after the victim told the court he had forgiven him.
Judge Judge Monica Benton also handed down Luis Vazquez, 21, 240 hours of community service for the November 24 drunken assault on Sukhvir Singh, hailing from India, in King County of Washington State.
Deputy Prosecutor Mike Hogan sought a two-year jail term, though he pointed out that Singh “has been forgiving of the attack from the beginning.”
The judge said that while racism was pernicious and hate crimes undermined society, forgiveness and remorse played a role in justice as well, the Seattle Times reported.
Vazquez pleaded guilty last month to reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and malicious harassment.
He told the court that he did not remember the drunken assault but was ashamed and shocked when he woke up in jail and learned what he had done.
“I’m really, really sorry for what I put you through,” Vazquez told Mr. Singh during the hearing that was packed with members of the Sikh community.
“I’m sorry for making you have to look back over your shoulder when you walk.”
Thrown out
A drunk Vazquez was thrown out of a football game and put into a cab driven by Mr. Singh.While Mr. Singh was driving down, Vazquez punched him, bit him on the scalp and called him an “Iraqi terrorist.”Mr. Singh pulled to the side of the freeway and sought police help.