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Loading ...Court turns over files on Larry King to defense
08.22.2008 12:00pm EDT
(Oxnard, California) Confidential files and school records of 15-year old Larry King, the gay teen who was gunned down by another student in February, have been turned over to the attorney for the boy accused of killing him.
Attorney William Quest, who represents Brandon McInerney, 14, had subpoenaed the records to help him prepare his legal defense. The King family opposed the subpoena on the grounds the information should be kept private.It is believed the material contains information on King’s medical and psychological behavior during the time he was living at Casa Pacifica, a center for troubled and abused children, according to The Ventura County Star newspaper. The files also are believed to contain information from teachers and students at Green School, where both King and McInerney were students and where the shooting occurred.
Superior Court Judge James Cloninger examined the files and redacted material he did not think pertinent to the case.
Quest had sought the unedited records, including the names of students and others that he wanted to interview about the case but Cloninger told him to review the redacted material first and if he needed more information to return to court.
“As I said before, Brandon is not a sociopath. This is not some crazy kid,” Quest told The Star. “[There was] a lot of stuff going on” prior to the shooting.
“There were warnings of trouble,” he told the paper. “What I am trying to establish, given the mandatory harsh sentencing that goes with trying a 14-year-old as an adult, is explaining what was going on. How this tragedy happened, not trying to minimize it or take anything away from the tragedy. But at least, provide it in the context which we think would provide a partial defense on behalf of Brandon.”
McInerney has pleaded not guilty to killing King. He has been charged as an adult with first degree murder and a hate crime. If convicted he faces 51 years to life without the possibility of parole
King was shot in the head during a morning class. More than 20 other students were in the room at the time. McInerney was arrested shortly after the shooting.
King died in hospital after his mother agreed to have life-support removed.
King was honored earlier this year at schools across the country as part of the National Day of Silence.
Brandon brought a gun to school. In the days of school shootings, he had to know this was wrong. Brandon was a coward and shot Lawrence in the back of the head. Regardless of whatever lame excuse the sleezy Quest can come up with, he brought a gun to school, which is illegal, he is a minor in possession of a pistol, also illegal if I recall, and took a life, also very much illegal. No matter what is in Lawrence’s files does not constitute what Brandon did.
I can’t get my head around this story. It’s just tragic all around. A child dead. A child murderer. It amounts to two young lives destroyed.
well put Dave H! I agree completely!
I feel exactly the same as Jonathan. I feel for both the victim and the perpetrator.
I don’t feel Brandon should be let off, or that the courts should go easy on him, but only that it is heart-breaking that two young lives have been destroyed in this tragedy.
No child should ever be tried as an adult. Period. They don’t have the rights of an adult. They don’t have the judgment or maturity of an adult. They should not have the penalties of an adult.
This does not mean that he should not be kept in state custody in a rehabilitative environment for as long as his state allows. Way too many troubled teenagers are being locked up for life for things they were too immature to think about in a rational way.
My previous knowledge of this case indicates that Larry was a disruptive and out of control special needs child with ADHD and emotional difficulties. This does not give anyone the right or justification of killing him. However, it points a finger at the school for not having him on a behavior plan in his IEP that reduced inappropriate confrontational behavior on his part. Indications are the the boy who killed him also had serious emotional/behavioral problems and that both had difficult home lives.
My nephew was Emotional-Behavior Disordered and ADHD. He got sent to ISS for calling the principal “Honey” and cussing the librarian and the school nurse. He was also an out gay child from at least the 8th grade and dating an incredibly hunky bisexual at his school. His special educaton teacher knew that he was causing trouble for himself by his flaming. She was very gay supportive but did not want him to get hurt so she worked with him to tone down his flaming and behave appropriately. He is now an out gay man of 26. He does not wear an “I AM GAY” sign, but he does not hide his sexual orientation either.
The duty of special education teachers is to teach appropriate and functional behavior in society. Good Behavior Disorders (EBD)teachers spend a lot of time working on this in the EBD classes. Somebody messed up with both of these boys. Part of the responsibility for this disaster for two boys and two families lies with the school. The adminstration and the teachers, especially the special education teachers, should have known trouble was coming and derailed it in advance.
Sorry, actions have consequences no matter what your age. If you commit an adult crime you should be treated as an adult criminal.
Chances are that this child was less ADHD and “special needs” and more a product of poor parenting. All too often children are labeled as having behavioral problems because they had not discipline in their homes.
If you are an adult you should face an adult punishment. There’s no such thing as “kiddie crimes”.
I agree with Jonathan too. Two lives are destroyed. And while I think Brandon should be punished severely, it should be as the 14 year old BOY that he is.
He’s not 21, he’s not even 18. He’s FOURTEEN! No this is not an excuse to let him go. And yes his crime is reprehensible, and I find it appalling with every fiber of my being, but if we are going to start punishing 14 year old the same as an adult, then are we going to allow them the same privileges of an adult? Should we let them smoke? Drink? Have sex with anyone they choose? Of course not! They’re FOURTEEN!
18 is 18 and 14 is 14. Noone should get that messed up.
And just because you are 14, you do not get a “do over.”
Does his victim get a “do over.”
Ya do the crime, ya do the time.
If you’re a 14 year old criminal, they you should do the time as a 14 year old criminal; not 18 year old.
And while poor Lawrence doesn’t get a secound chance, are you really say that you’d take away a CHILD’S chance at life because he messed up? How does that make us any better than him? We might not be pulling the trigger, but we are destroying a child’s life none the less.
So yes; throw the book at Brandon. Just as a 14 year old. Not 18.
As I said before, 14 is 14 and 18 is 18.
Yes, that “child” choose to commit an adult crime. As I see it, if he is convicted he forfeits his rights. I’m not saying execute him, but certainly life in prison.
There is so much to this tragedy; this is not a simple matter. We, gays and lesbians react in horror to another pointless gay assault. Our outrage is well-founded. Still, and I’ve been consistent on this, a 14-years old kid is not an adult. He should receive punishment, more than a slap on the wrist, but he ought not to be charged with 1st degree murder as an adult.No kid deserves to be placed in hell, an adult prison. Kids can be reclaimed by society, adult felons are another story. He may have been able to form intent, but the intentions and consequences of a kid’s actions are not the same as those of an adult. Fourteen years of age reflects the intolerance of others; the hate crime aspect is more a reflection than an adult responsibility. This horrible case is engendering bitterness and hate. That does not constitute justice.
You people scare me sometimes.
I agree completely, Rhonda.
Just curious for those that say this is “just a kid.”
What’s the cut off? Say someone is 17 years and 360 days old? Do they get a free pass? How about 17 years and 300 days? Maybe that’s too young?
Sorry folks, it does not hold water. The courts decide if someone can be tried as an adult. I for one believe that anyone convicted of an “adult crime” needs to be tried as an adult.
Trce said: “anyone convicted of an “adult crime” needs to be tried as an adult.”
Trace, do you have any idea how little sense that statement makes? How does one get convicted before they are tried? This whole thing is a perfect example of the “knee jerk” mentality dictating to the courts.