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Loading ...Larry King Suspect To Be Tried as Adult
07.25.2008 10:58am EDT
(Oxnard, California) A 14-year old charged with murder in the shooting of a gay classmate will be tried as an adult. If found guilty, he will face life behind bars.
Brandon McInerney is charged with murder as a hate crime in the Feb. 12 shooting of 15-year-old Larry King in a classroom at E.O. Green School in Oxnard, Calif.McInerney’s attorney fought to have the teen tried as a juvenile.
Under California law, if McInerney is convicted as an adult he could be imprisoned for 50 years to life, plus an additional three years for the hate crime provision. If convicted as a juvenile, he would have been freed at age 25.
On Thursday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Douglas Daily ruled that the case could proceed to trial in adult court and that the life penalty McInerney would face if convicted would not be unconstitutional.
In April, a coalition of 27 LGBT rights groups called on the district attorney not to prosecute McInerney as an adult.
“The facts in this matter seem clear: one boy killed another in a climate of intolerance and fear about sexual orientation and gender expression. The alleged perpetrator, who turned 14 years old less than three weeks before the shooting, should be held accountable for his actions. But we support the principles underlying our juvenile justice system that treat children differently than adults and provide greater hope and opportunity for rehabilitation,” the groups said.
King was honored earlier this year at schools across the country as part of the National Day of Silence.
Several classmates have said King would wear feminine attire, making him an unpopular figure with other boys at his campus. Some students said that McInerney was upset that King had flirted with him.
McInerney’s attorney has suggested that some of the blame for the murder must rest with the school. He told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year that while the school allowed King to explore his sexuality, it did nothing to quell the unrest among other students.
“Brandon is not some crazed lunatic,” Quest told The Times. “This was a confluence of tragic events that could have been stopped. If there is partial blame in other places, let’s not throw away Brandon for the rest of his life.”
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 the hospital after his mother agreed to have life-support removed.
McInerney will be arraigned Aug. 7.
Because of his young age,he might have a chance at being rehabilated.I think a 15 yr.sentence would be fair,getting out when he’s around 30.
Brandon should not be tried as an adult. If he is, then all 14 year olds should be tried as adults. We should not pick and chose who we want tried as adults just to suit our particular purpose and/or prejudice. It seems to me that 16 would be a reasonable legal age to consider a person an adult in all matters concerning the law: period.
50 yrs is not enough for me! make him serve every minute of it!
right on! 50 is almost not enough for me, he should serve every minute of it.
How about Lawrence Kings’ Life?? He has None left…… If one can kill a gay and receive a juvenile punishment (wrist slap) Can a Gay Kill a Straight and receive minimal punishment?? NO Premeditated (Hate Crime) Murder is Murder at any age. Tried as a juvenile he would be out at 25 to kill again.
How about Lawrence Kings’ Life?? He has None left…… If one can kill a gay and receive a juvenile punishment (wrist slap) Can a Gay Kill a Straight and receive minimal punishment. Premeditated (Hate Crime) Murder is Murder at any age. Tried as a juvenile he can kill again at 25!
How about Lawrence Kings’ Life?? He has None left…… If one can kill a gay and receive a juvenile punishment (wrist slap) Can a Gay Kill a Straight and receive minimal punishment. Premeditated (Hate Crime) Murder is Murder at any age. Tried as a juvenile he can Kill again at 25.
How about Lawrence Kings’ Life?? He has None left…… If one can kill a gay and receive a juvenile punishment (wrist slap) Can a Gay Kill a Straight and receive minimal punishment. Premeditated (Hate Crime) Murder is Murder at any age.
A child was shot in the head in front of other classmates. If the District Attorney doesn’t serve McInerney’s head on a plate, the voters will have his in November. It is that simple.
No matter what the crime, a 14 year old is not an adult. The brain is nowhere near finished in its development. It is another example of American barbarism to try children as adults.
14 years olds in 2008 are not the same as 14 years olds 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. This young man took a gun to school and without any emotion (as reported) shot Larry King not once but twice and calmly left the school.
Yes he’s a child, but he surly knew that a gun can kill and knew that shooting Larry King was going to kill him.
Brandon McInerney should be held accountable. Let us not forget that he will more than likely NOT get 50 years to life. Children have become savage and callus and yes I agree the parents and the school are also to be blamed.
If we do not start to show adults as well as children that you cannot commit these heinous crimes, then we might as well do away with all laws.
We need comprehensive education, training and federal laws governing homophobia, racism and hate in this country. Bulling and harassment of adults is a crime, why is it not for children?
Of course he should be punished but the possibility of 50 years to life seems excessive in this case. Of course none of the other articles I’ve read concerning the matter even mention the cadre of Gay rights groups who are opposed to trying McInerney as an adult.
We’ll soon be treated to the usual “this is what they want to do to “Christians” who speak out against homosexuality!” hysterics. Its a mess.
His parents should share his sentence with him. No child is born hating anyone, it is totally a learned behavior.
The initial killing was a tragedy, but why they must make this even worse by trying a child as an adult is beyond me. He deserves help and counseling, not life behind bars.
What makes us mad at 14 seems trivial at a more mature age. Surely the State could impress how wrong this CHILD’s actions were after 10 years of incarceration. It appears that this case has now become about punishment more than trying to retrieve one of the two lives so tragically involved in this fiasco. The shame will be that instead of one life being lost, now both of these children will pay the price for an instant of ultimate foolishness. Perhaps if we did not teach our children hatred for those that are different, such tragedies could be avoided in the future.