Sympathy for Gay Killer: Father Dies on Day of Hearing

The main suspect in the murder of gay classmate Lawrence King, 15-year-old Brandon McInerney, was scheduled to appear in court March 18th for an arraignment.

The hearing was postponed after the court was informed that Brandon McInerney’s father, 45-year-old William McInerney, had been found dead by a friend at his home that morning. ABC7 reports the cause of death to be blunt trauma to the head – William McInerney apparently fell and hit his head while he was drunk. A medical examiner told the Ventura County Star that McInerney had a history of alcohol abuse, but declined to elaborate.

Brandon McInerney is accused of killing 15-year-old Lawrence King at their Oxnard junior high school February 12, 2008 because Larry asked Brandon to be his Valentine in front of Brandon’s friends.

King was openly gay and sometimes dressed in feminine clothes. Hateful details were recently given by the Prosecution in this case, and Brandon McInerney is set to be tried for murder as an adult. McInerney is also charged with a hate crime and discharging a gun. He is in custody, with bail set at $770,000 and faces a sentence of 51 years to life if convicted of all the charges.

Here is breaking video news of William McInerney’s death:

ABC7 reports that William McInerney was in the process of trying to sell his home, so that he could pay the associated legal fees resulting from Brandon’s arrest.

William McInerney himself had just been released from jail 8 days earlier, and had been seen around the neighborhood the day before he was found dead walking around in a “drunken stupor”. A neighbor speculates that he was drinking because of his son’s coming court date. There was no mention of Saint Patrick’s Day, a popular day for alcohol consumption, and whether that played a part in William McInerney’s death. The LA Times reports court records showing that McInerney was facing recent felony charges of making criminal threats against his sister, Maura McInerney. He also was charged with possessing a firearm within 10 years of a domestic violence conviction. William McInerney faced around four years in jail if convicted.

The Ventura County Star reports that William McInerney’s friend found him dead when she went to pick him up to take him to the arraignment.

Connie Hunter, 70, of Ventura, a former substitute teacher at the school where Lawrence King was killed, said that McInerney didn’t have a way to get to court for his son’s preliminary hearing on March 18th, so she offered him a ride. When she arrived she honked her horn, but he didn’t answer; and when she didn’t find him at the liquor store near the house she knocked on his door. When he didn’t respond to repeated knocks, Hunter peaked through a hole in the door and saw William McInerney lying on his back on the floor “not moving”, she said. She called 911. The Ventura County Senior Deputy Medical Examiner ruled William McInerney’s death as an accident.

The Brandon McInerney trial has had several postponements, and defense lawyers recently asked to postpone the preliminary hearings, which determine if there is enough evidence to hold a defendant over for trial, as they wait for ruling on an appeal.

The defense is challenging the district attorney’s decision to prosecute Brandon McInerney as an adult. Brandon’s defense attorneys are arguing that he should not be tried as an adult as he just recently turned 15, and say there has been an abuse of discretion by the prosecutors who charged Brandon as an adult. His criminal defense lawyers allege that prosecutors did not fully review the individual circumstances surrounding the case, or examine Brandon’s home environment or educational background.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger said that he found the appeal by Wippert “of, interest.” However, the judge ordered the attorneys to be prepared to go to court for the preliminary hearing immediately.

“I don’t think there is good cause. This case needs to move forward,” Cloninger was quoted as saying. The attorneys were later told to report back Wednesday March18th.

Upon news of the death of William McInerney, the judge instead decided to postpone Brandon McInerney’s hearing until April.

Brandon’s mother, Kendra, was in the courtroom when told of the news. She was later seen in the hallway crying and shaking as defense lawyers and district attorney investigator Robert Coughlin tried to comfort her.

Attorneys from both sides declined to comment as they left the courtroom.

William McInerney’s domestic violence attorney Jay Leiderman, said the family authorized him to issue a statement on their behalf:

“The McInerney family asks that you respect their privacy at this difficult time. We understand that Bill McInerney’s death was a tragic accident. Everyone who knew him is devastated by this loss,” the statement read.

Leiderman went on to say “Bill McInerney was a dedicated family man, especially to his son, Brandon. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him. I found Bill to be a very charismatic, kind-hearted and likeable man who only wanted the best for those around him. It was a privilege for me to have known him.”

The Ventura County Star reports

Jay Smith, executive director of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, a gay-rights organization watching the case, called McInerney’s death “absolutely tragic.” Smith said he had seen McInerney during court hearings involving his son. “I met Bill several times,” he said. “He was there pretty regularly. “Once again this boy is …” Smith said, his voice dropping off. “It’s a mess.”

There was no comment from Greg King, the father of Lawrence King, on William McInerney’s death or how it might affect the case. William McInerney’s sister Shannon Maulhardt said his funeral services will be private.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lawyers of Lawrence King’s Killer Denied Files (queerty.com)
• Ventura County D.A. Fights to Have Lawrence King’s Murderer Tried as an Adult (queerty.com)
• The Parents of Murdered 8th Grader Sue EVERYONE For Not Forcing Him to be Less Gay (queerty.com)