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(Newark, New Jersey) A 30 year old man has
pleaded guilty to the murder of Sakia Gunn, a 15 year lesbian stabbed in a
homophobic attack as she waited for a bus in 2003.
In a plea bargain murder charges were dropped and
Richard McCullough (pictured) pleaded guilty to aggravated
manslaughter, aggravated assault and bias intimidation. When he is sentenced April 21
McCullough is likely to receive between 20 and 25 years behind bars making him
eligible for parole in about 15 years.
Gunn and her 17 year old girlfriend had taken the
train from Manhattan to Newark's Penn Station after spending the night in
Greenwich Village.
They were waiting for a bus at the city's busiest
intersection. (story)
when McCullough and another man drove up around 3:30 a.m. and attempted to
proposition them. The teens said they weren't interested because they were
lesbians. The men then began taunting them and when a scuffle broke out Shakia
Gunn was stabbed in the chest.
As McCullough thrust the knife into her he hurled
homophobic epithets.
The killers fled and Gunn's friend flagged down a
motorist who drove the teenager to University Hospital where she died a short
time later.
The murder shocked New Jersey's gay community.
More than 300 people demonstrated in front of Newark City Hall to draw attention
to the murder and the violence that members of the LGBT community are subjected
to.
McCullough turned himself in after police
released a drawing of him based on eyewitness accounts. (story)
In court, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of
manslaughter, McCullough said that the killing was not all his fault.
"I stood in a defensive stance with my knife in my hand, and she lunged
at me," he said.
Superior Court Judge Paul Vichness then threatened to reject the plea
agreement and order a new trial because McCullough's account did not square with
the prosecution's account.
Assistant Essex County Prosecutor
Thomas McTigue said that despite McCullough's minimizing his responsibility he
was satisfied with the courtroom confession, and Judge Vichness accepted the
plea.
Members of the Gunn and McCullough families had a brief
heated exchange in the hallway of the courthouse following the hearing.
Sheriff's officers quickly moved in an separated the families.
©365Gay.com 2005
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