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Mar 3, 2008 8:14 am US/Eastern
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Assault Victim's Wife Files Suit Against Attackers
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Zach Sowers was brutally attacked and robbed just steps from his home near Patterson Park and is still in a coma.
Jessica Kartalija reports his wife is again going after the people who did this.
Anna Sowers is working on legislation she calls "Zach's Law." Under the proposal, an assault that leaves someone in a vegetative state for more than 4 to 6 weeks could be prosecuted as a murder.
Zach Sowers has been in a coma at Johns Hopkins for the past eight months.
"Every day that passes and he doesn't come out of this is another day he is less like Zach," his wife Anna said.
Sowers was brutally attacked feet from his home after a night out with friends.
Three of the four teens accused of robbing and beating him agreed to a plea deal. Sixteen-year-old Eric Price, 18-year-old Arthur Jeter and 19-year-old Wilbert Martin will serve an eight year jail sentence plus five years supervised probation.
The three testified against Trayvon Ramos, the 16-year-old who actually kicked and stomped Sowers. He will remain behind bars for the next 40 years.
"It's like you just want to do something because they ruined so much for me," Sowers said.
Now she is filing a civil suit against her husband's attackers.
"Basically it's just a statement based on principle, because I'm not going to get any money for this. It's just that if anything were to happen in the future where they were able to get money, that money is garnished and given back to me to pay for medical expenses and that sort of thing," she said.
A caveat in the attackers' plea deal says if Sowers should die, they will not face felony murder charges.
Sowers says the law needs to be tougher against people who commit these types of crimes.
"The case is over. That's what the judge decided. I don't agree with it, I never will, but I can't keep harping on it," Sowers said.
Another fundraiser is being planned Sunday, March 9, to help pay for the couple's medical bills.
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