Defense Blames Lawrence King for his Own Murder

Timothy Kincaid

April 21st, 2008

Lawrence KingDeputy Public Defender William Quest, the defense attorney for Brandon McInerney, the 14 year old who shot his 15 year old gay classmate Lawrence King, has made statements intended to fuel blame against the victim.

From the Ventura Star

Quest said he believes school administrators supported one student expressing himself and his sexuality — King — and ignored how it affected other kids, despite complaints. Cross-dressing isn’t a normal thing in adult environments, he said, yet 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds were expected to just accept it and go on.

Mr. Quest is not being accurate. Other than boots and jewelry, King did not cross-dress; he wore the school uniform.

Further, Mr. Quest is not allowed to use gay panic as a defense in his case. California law does not allow it.

A.B. 1160 declares that it is against public policy for a defendant to play upon the bias of the jury, or for a jury to allow bias against the victim to enter into its decision-making.

So, other than efforts to disparage young Mr. King or to taint the jury pool, it isn’t clear what Quest is hoping to achieve by such claims. Sadly, I fear that his statements may just be the result of the common belief that gay people deserve the violence enacted against them.

Joel

April 21st, 2008

“Quest said he believes school administrators supported one student expressing himself and his sexuality — King — and ignored how it affected other kids, despite complaints. Cross-dressing isn’t a normal thing in adult environments, he said, yet 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds were expected to just accept it and go on.”

This sound san awful lot like what weve been hearing from the Jamaican radiohost.

I dont think ppl know the difference between acceptance and tolerance,and that might be me =o.

A Stitch in Haste

April 22nd, 2008

Should Jury Nullification Apply to Blocked Defenses Too?…

Question for the nullifiers: At least one state forbids the use of the so-called “gay panic defense.” Should a nullifier be entitled to disregard that prohibition and vote to acquit a gay-basher in defiance of both the law and the jury instructions?…

Buffy

April 26th, 2008

I think what Quest is doing is vile. The “Gay Panic Defense” in every form needs to die.

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