PITTSBURGH — A man who said he was attacked at a downtown Pittsburgh T station faced the suspects in court Tuesday.
Five Baldwin men are charged on the state level in the May 30 beating of Kevin Lockett.
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Lockett told police the group taunted him with racial slurs before attacking him on the platform at the Wood Street station after the Kenny Chesney concert.
He told Channel 11 News he suffered several broken bones in his face, requiring three surgeries and metal plates.
According to Channel 11's Jennifer Tomazic, Lockett became visibly irritated while testifying during Tuesday's hearing and needed several breaks as the suspects' attorneys cross-examined him.
Surveillance video showing the incident was played during the hearing, along with video from 2013, showing Lockett at a tailgate party with one of the suspects.
- CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO (WARNING: GRAPHIC!)
Lockett said he did not know any of the men but may have encountered one of them while selling tickets.
"I couldn't watch it. I had to walk away," Lockett told Channel 11 News in reference to the surveillance video.
Prosecutors said the men were bullies, with one suspect seen in the video pushing Lockett onto the train tracks before beating him unconscious.
Lockett said to this day, he still can’t see clearly out of his right eye.
“(It’s) real confusing. Why me? Why did this whole thing happen?” he said.
Ryan Kyle, 21, is charged with attempted homicide, ethnic intimidation, aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
David Depretis, 20; Matthew LaPlace, 21; Christopher LaPlace, 23; and Kenneth Gault, 21, are facing various charges related to the attack.
Police said the attack was racially motived, and the suspects continued to call Lockett names even after being caught.
Prosecutors have recommended additional charges of ethnic intimidation in the case.
“The argument I made to the court, is after the fact, racial slurs doesn't equal ethic intimidation,” Al Burke, Kyle’s defense attorney, said.
Meanwhile, Lockett said he forgives the men and hopes they don’t make the city of Pittsburgh look racist or bad.
“I don’t have (any) hatred toward no one,” he said. “I didn’t believe it could happen, not in our city.”
Kyle, the main suspect in the case, willingly entered Alcoholics Anonymous and Anger Management.