Thanksgiving Day beating suspect faces death threats

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Friends of Travis Hawkins Jr. are speaking out on his behalf after they said he and his family have received numerous death threats.

Hawkins is accused of beating up his sister's girlfriend, Mallory Owens, on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

Friends of Hawkins said he and Owens have a rocky past.

“She has been making threats to him, and they’ve always had constant arguments all the time. They’ve never gotten along,” said Hawkins’ friend.

Related: DA: not able to confirm 'hate crime'

The Hawkins family isn’t offering a motive. but they said the attack was not a hate crime.

“I wish other people would realize he was doing it out of defense for his sister. It wasn’t out of hate,” said Hawkins’ friend. “He shouldn’t have hit her at all; no, but he never had the intent to cause the damage that he did. He said whenever he saw her picture, he balled his eyes out.”

 On Tuesday, Owens said she does not believe Hawkins attacked her because she is gay.

Owens said she thinks Hawkins should be punished, but doesn't believe he should spend years in jail.

“I don’t understand a lot of things that have happened between us, but that doesn’t make me hate her brother you know I don’t hate her family at all,” said Owens.

Hawkins did not want to release a statement on Tuesday but did say he is remorseful. He also said he is hopeful the public will wait to pass judgment until all the facts are known.