Governor meets with the family of an Ecuadoran immigrant beaten to death by three black men

Gov. Paterson has met with the family of an Ecuadoran immigrant beaten to death in a Brooklyn bias attack and urged New Yorkers to help police find the thugs who did it. "I urge anyone that knows anything about the attacks that led to the tragic death of Jose Sucuzhañay to please let the authorities know and help this family to at least know that the tragic loss of their bother, their son, will be avenged in a court of law. Society is judged on how we treat our fellow man. This is not the New York we aspire to." Sucuzhañay, a 31-year-old real estate broker and father of two, was badly bludgeoned in Bushwick by three black men who shouted anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs, witnesses said. Sucuzhañay's body is being flown back to his native Ecuador today to be buried. Paterson said he promised the family he would do all he can to help find the killers. "I wanted to let them know that the power of the executive branch and the powers of the state will be utilized to the fullest extent," he said. Recent statistics show that hate crimes against Hispanics have risen in the United States by 40% from 2005 to 2007.