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Loading ...Psych evaluation for boy accused of killing Larry King
10.22.2008 11:43am EDT
(Oxnard, California) The 14-year old boy accused of killing openly gay teen Larry King has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
The order was sought by attorneys for Brandon McInerney and Judge Kevin McGee agreed.McGee appointed psychiatrist Ronald Thurston and psychologist Marlene Valter to examine McInerney. McInerney returns to court November 14 and McGee said he hoped the evaluation will be complete by that time.
The application for the psychiatric evaluation came from McInerney’s new attorneys, Scott Wippert of the United Defense Group and Robyn Bramson. The teen’s family earlier this month fired the legal aid lawyer that had been representing the teen.
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.
Earlier this month Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox said that white supremacist materials had been found by investigators 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 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.
If the psychiatric exam finds McInerney competent to understand the charges against him and able to participate in his defense a trial date could be set. If, however, he is found not competent he would be sent to a mental health facility – likely Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino – where he would be treated and held until his deemed able to stand trial.
I just want to let you know that my daughter was Bestfriends with Larry and she even would talk to him about personal things. The boy that killed Larry my daughter knew as well. She had told me one time that he even liked her. but when he found out that larry liked him then that is what set him off. She said that he didn’t like that and it made him mad. The kids ALL the time made fun of My Daughter and Larry but she was happy to have a friend. Since this has happened we moved to a different state and we can’t even mention Larry’s name without my daughter crying. My daughter told my wife the day it happened she said” Mom they told us somebody got shot ,and i hope it’s not Larry because everybody made fun of him and he is my best friend and i hope he’s ok. I just want America to know that not only have we desensitized our children we have hurt them as well WE hurt there future by not talking to them or just sitting with them and talking about LIFE issues. Knowing that my daughter knows the shooter is even harder to grasp because being a Father and a Male rold model how do I show her now that guys are ok knowing that she knew the boy that killed her best friend. I hope that someday The people in the world see’s what they are doing to their kids by not supporting them. Larry was a wonderful boy and my daughter will Never forget him or the Kids that TEASED Her and Larry almost everyday. America had better wake up and see that children are important and i know that that boy shot Larry just because he said he liked him. And that is sad. I ‘m sorry if any of this offends anybody but your not living in my house with the fears and sadness my daughter has. America grow up talk to your children and give them guidance. Thank you Jason D. Decker
When 20 people witness you murder someone in cold blood, straws are all you have left to grasp at.
Ugh. This is why I have so little faith in the justice system sometimes. All they’re trying to do is stall for time while they try to build some semblance of defense of a crime that’s indefensible. And it’s not like it’s hard to convince a psychiatrist you’re unstable if that’s your aim.