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Loading ...Boy accused of killing gay teen fires lawyer
10.15.2008 11:32am EDT
(Oxnard, California) The 14-year old boy accused of killing openly gay teen Larry King has fired his attorneys from the county Public Defender’s Office. Brandon McInerney now will be represented by a group of high profile lawyers from Los Angeles.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee approved the change following a closed door meeting between the Public Defender’s Office and United Defense Group of Studio City, along with North Hollywood lawyer Robyn Bramson.McGee said that he had determined McInerney understood the implications of the charges against him and had not been coerced into making the legal change.
United Defense Group has not said if it is taking the case pro-bono or who will pay for the expert witnesses it is expected to call during the trial.
McInerney is charged with murder as a hate crime and will be tried in adult court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 51 years to life.
Two weeks ago, Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox said that white supremacist materials were found in McInerney’s bedroom.
“They included hand-drawn sketches of swastikas, references to the ‘14 Words’ and the number 88, which is commonly used by skinheads to represent the words Heil Hitler and Hitler’s SS,” Fox said in a court filing.
King was shot in the head during a morning class at an Oxnard school in February. More than 20 other students were in the room at the time. McInerney was arrested shortly after the shooting.
King died in the hospital after his mother agreed to have life-support removed.
He was honored earlier this year at schools across the country as part of the National Day of Silence.
We need to start to follow an eye for an eye. When they kill one of us we kill the one who did it. The only way the breeders will learn is when their actions have consequences that are actually followed through on and not eventually plea bargained.
Step,
Sincerely,
James
“Eye for an eye, Tooth for a tooth”-Villager
“Then the whole world will be blind and toothless.”- Tevya, Fiddler on the Roof.
As much as I believe some people deserve to die, the system just doesn’t work. Hammurabi’s Code just isn’t feasible anymore.
This change Mr. McInerney made in his lawyers was most likely to support his “I am just a victim” defense. A lot of the material I have read has already been leaning toward that end. Mr. King’s father has been blaming the school because they allowed his son “to act that way”. Newsweek even broached that idea (without actually defending it). Unfortunately I see young Larry being used as a tool by the defense. A tool who “taunted” “poor” Brandon. This despicable defense even earned a name during Matthew Shepard’s murder trial, “gay panic”. To think that it will be used in an attempt to vilify Mr. King sickens me.
Why is it I see the beginnings of the ‘Gay Panic Defense’?
I don’t think that this will solve it.
I think that we have to show society that we are better than this. Hold our head up high and let them see we are not ashamed as we have nothing to be ashamed about.
As for the term “breeders” I was called that once because I have 2 children, I do not think it is right to call someone this term just because they are straight and have children. If straight people didn’t give birth there would be much less of us. How do you think we all got here? Further more now more and more GLBTQ people are giving birth the natural way and adopting the children of those so called “breeders” it is a despicable term as much so as “fag” or “dyke” We all need to show that we are responsible adults who do not resort to childish name calling when pushed.
I think that this case is going to turn extremely ugly and the vicitm will most certainly become the criminal. This new law firm is obviously looking for these types of high media profile crimes to bolster their image. I.E. Free advertising!
California - Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona - Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida - Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut - Vote “NO” on Question 1!
As titillating as it might be to entertain revenge fantasies realistically its impossible to kill everyone who disagrees with you. Success just might be the best revenge.
Would be interesting to know who’s paying for his “group of high profile lawyers from Los Angeles”. Might they be paid for by one of those Christianist think tank institutions?