Comments on: Lawyer Blames School for King’s Shooting

By: Mombian » Blog Archive » Weekly Political Roundup

Mombian » Blog Archive » Weekly Political Roundup — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:43:08 +0000

[...] California, the lawyer for Brandon McInerney, the teen accused of killing fellow student Lawrence King, says [...]

By: Buffy

Buffy — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:16:23 +0000

I just blogged about that myself. I’m utterly disgusted that Quest is actually pursuing this line of defense. Blame the victim and the school that merely upheld his rights. Yes, the killer had no recourse but to shoot him in the back of the head because the boy flirted with him and wore high heels. Bull!

By: Stefano

Stefano — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:56:30 +0000

Timothy Kincaid

It sounds to me like he’s still blaming King…

KatieKat

Ugh.
This reminds me of defense attorneys who claim that the rape victim was ‘asking for it’.

Indeed!

The blame the victim line is exactly the line of argument prosecution is trying to build. The attempts to prey upon existing prejudices and fuel blame against the victim seems to be a common tack in such cases. That is what I find so frustratingly infuriating.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:28:30 +0000

“they downplayed the turmoil”

They always taught me at school that if you had problems(personal or with others) that you should seek help with the counselor, if you didnt want to tell your parents.

I guess if you wanted to kill someone that would be considered a problem.IMHO.

Still.. that does not abolish any justice that larry must serve jsut because he didnt know where he could seek the help.

By: Yuki Choe

Yuki Choe — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:36:53 +0000

“I don’t agree with Quest’s arguments, but let’s remember that he’s a public defender charged to do the best he can to defend his client.”

Yes Leo, I would agree to that but with such no-brainer defense from Quest, I do not think I would want him as my defense lawyer in any circumstance.

By: Leo

Leo — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:51:36 +0000

I don’t agree with Quest’s arguments, but let’s remember that he’s a public defender charged to do the best he can to defend his client.

What would have him do? He’s grabbing at what straws are available to him.

I wouldn’t trade places with him.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:46:27 +0000

Actually, the “blame the victim” defense is cannot be presented in California. Quest is dancing around that by blaming the school for not stopping the victim. I think he knows that the court will not allow that sort of nonsense and is just trying to poison the jury pool.

I’m pretty sure that I would not like Mr. Quest. He seems like a win-at-any-cost kinda guy and completely immoral and evil. But I don’t know him and that’s just based on what I read on this case.

By: KatieKat

KatieKat — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:28:55 +0000

Ugh.
This reminds me of defense attorneys who claim that the rape victim was ‘asking for it’.
I have been having such a hard time with this whole case. He was clearly a very sweet boy who liked his high-heeled boots and blue eyeshadow. It’s sad that even in a progressive state like California, this kind of defense can be presented.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:46:47 +0000

It sounds to me like he's still blaming King:

rising tensions between the two boys, which began when King openly flirted with McInerney

so intent on nurturing King as he explored his sexuality...they downplayed the turmoil that his behavior was causing on campus

McInerney's inability to see another way to solve his problem

We think there will be evidence that the school, with the actions of Larry, didn't quite know how to deal with it

In literally every statement that Quest made, every single sentence, he blames the murder on King and presents McInerney as the aggreived party. That may be smart, but it leaves me thinking that William Quest is an immoral and evil person.