Actual Headline: "Victim to get $25,000 in crab cake stabbing." What can we learn from this?

Victim to get $25,000 in crab cake stabbing

Man ordered to pay restitution in scuffle over who was first in takeout line

By Sharahn Boykin | Sun Reporter
2:53 PM EDT, July 25, 2007

A 32-year-old Reisterstown man who stabbed a customer he claimed pushed ahead of him in a crab cake takeout line was ordered today to pay $25,000 restitution but will serve no jail time.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch suspended a 10-year prison sentence for Keith Anthony Rantin Jr., of the 300 block of Norgulf Road, and sentenced him to five years of probation. She said she feared the victim would receive no compensation if Rantin served prison time.

(snip)

Today, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Dunty recounted how a fight broke out during the lunch rush on March 28, 2006, at G&M Restaurant and Lounge after a cashier asked who was next line for crab cakes.

Rites stepped up and handed her a credit card, Dunty said, but Rantin insisted Rites was not next and shoved him "like a football player."

Rantin pulled out a knife, and Rites slammed Rantin's hand on the glass counter in an attempt to get the knife out of his hand, Dunty said. The fight ended with the knife hitting the ground and Rites bleeding.

Defense attorney Kenneth RaVenell, however, said Rites shoved Rantin first and pulled a knife first. Rantin stabbed Rites in self-defense, Ravenell said.