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 Drag Queen Sentenced To 40 Years In Trucker
Murder
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: May 16, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET
(West Palm Beach, Florida) A 28-year old gay
Florida man has been sentenced to 40-years in prison for the slaying of a
45-year old trucker he met in a West Palm Beach gay club in 2003.
Eulis "Robbie"
Campbell pleaded guilty to stabbing Farook Baksh 56 times, avoiding a second
trial for the killing.
Last year an appeals court ordered a new trial,
ruling that the original judge erred by not sequestering the jury during its
deliberations.
Campbell had been convicted in the original trial
and sentenced to life behind bars.
By accepting a plea he will receive credit for
time already served bringing the sentence down to about 31 years.
But, it is likely Campbell will die in prison his
attorney said. Shari Vrod said that Campbell is in poor health as a result
of HIV and that his doctors expect him to live only about seven more years.
Campbell was well known in West Palm Beach's gay
community as a drag artist, performing under the stage name Madeline Monroe and
impersonating Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli and Madonna.
Campbell met Baksh at H.G. Roosters, a West Palm
Beach gay club and the two went to Baksh's apartment.
Baksh's wife of 20 years was not at home.
Campbell and Baksh allegedly had sex in the
apartment. Baksh was then stabbed and a fire was set in the apartment to cover
up the killing. His body was found by firefighters.
An autopsy showed he had been stabbed and slashed
56 times.
Campbell was arrested and charged with murder.
At the original trial the prosecution sought the
death penalty.
Campbell pleaded not guilty, saying that he had
acted in self defense after Baksh pulled a knife on him during sex.
The case went to the jury on a Friday evening in
November, 2006. The jurors deliberated several hours then told the judge
they had not reached a verdict and asked to be allowed to go home for the
Veterans Day weekend.
Defense lawyers objected, asking the judge to
sequester the jury until it reached a verdict.
Circuit Judge Richard Wennet ruled there was no
need to sequester and sent the jurors home.
The following week Campbell was convicted but the
jury recommended life in prison rather than the death penalty.
The original trial judge refused a defense motion
for a new trial because the jury had not been sequestered.
The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled in
December 2007 that by accepted practice in many states, and by law in others, it
is judicial error not to sequester jurors in a capital case, especially when the
defense requests it.
Before the second trial was to begin this week
Campbell pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree arson and grand
theft.
©365Gay.com 2008
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