Teen in gay slayinig gets 21 years

[dsc]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/gay-slaying.html

Lawrence King will never have any kids, no grandkids. He will never know true love. His killer, out at 38. I am 43, 38 doesn't seem that old to me.

The Oxnard teen who shot a gay classmate he believed was flirting with him has agreed to spend the next 21 years in prison, a plea deal that ends a case that drew national attention and ignited debate on how schools should deal with openly gay students.

Brandon McInerney, who was 14 when he pulled a gun out of his backpack and shot Larry King twice in the head in 2008, has already served nearly four years in jail and would be released by the time he is 38, under terms of the deal.

"Larry had a complicated life, but he did not deserve to be murdered," the youth's father,Greg King, said after a court hearing Monday afternoon.

[Pmc1962]

1. This is a dual tragedy.

The killer was 14 years old at the time of the murder. I'm sorry but, as the mother of a 14 yo boy, I can't justify adult punishments.

At 14, their brains are not fully developed and they suffer from what I call testosterone poisoning. They are impulsive, short-sighted, quick-tempered and are incapable of seeing the world as it is. He was taught to be hateful and he had access to a gun.

My heart goes out to the murdered boy's family--I can't imagine their pain. I don't minimize the crime. But let's remember that the crime was committed by a boy, not a man, before we condemn him completely.

[JI7]

3. at 14, even 12, 11 etc they are old enough to know it's not ok to shoot and kill someone

i can maybe understand if they were going to pull some prank on him but didnt intend to physically hurt him. but wanted to laugh and tease. but it ended up getting the person killed.

i can maybe have some understanding and take age into consideration.

but not shooting to death someone .

[riderinthestorm]

4. Does your 14 year old understand that taking a gun and shooting someone to death is wrong?

Is that somehow a grey area in your family?

I'm trying to figure out why you'd minimize murder. As the mother of a (just turned) 15 year old girl, I would try to accept the court's decision if my girl murdered someone else. I wouldn't be happy, I may lobby hard for the court to reduce the sentence if I could but ultimately, if my 15 year old committed murder there's no way i would try to minimize that terrible crime as some kind of adolescent impulsiveness.

[roguevalley]

12. he gets 21 years, his victim gets life.

[Obamanaut]

13. DIdn't the victim get a death penalty, sans trial? nt

[roguevalley]

15. yeah for nothing that should have made a difference to anyone.

so awful this thing.

[NMMNG]

5. He was old enough to commit premeditated murder

He's old enough to do the time.

[bigwillq]

7. He should've gotten life in prison.

He was let off easy, imo.

[johnnypneumatic]

17. a few thoughts

"testosterone poisoning" is male-phobic, please don't even...

"their brains are not fully developed" and "They are impulsive, short-sighted, quick-tempered and are incapable of seeing the world as it is. He was taught to be hateful and he had access to a gun."
that describes every republican...

"My heart goes out to the murdered boy's family--"
his family didn't give a fuck about him, he was rejected by them and living in a youth shelter

[sarcasmo]

2. 21 years for a life, that is just wrong regardless of the age of the killer.

[canetoad]

11. What, in your mind, would be appropriate?

Eternity spent on the griddle of hellfire being prodded by little demons?

Sorry sarcasmo, your post typifies the lust for old testament revenge that seems to be infused into American culture. If you truly believe the punishment should fit the crime do you advocate blinding, branding and burning at the stake?

[sarcasmo]

20. Funny, comparing me with the old testament. You are saying the dead persons life was worth

21 years?

[Kurmudgeon]

6. A shame a punishment can't be found for those who helped make Brandon what he ended up being.

Brandon is responsible for his actions, but I can't help feeling there were some spoon feeding him his hate at some point.

[Starry Messenger]

8. recommend

[provis99]

9. the 21 year sentence is unclear.

The article didn't specify how much of that is actual prison time and how much of this so-called "prison sentence" is parole. I suspect that he will get double time credit for the 4 years he's already spent in jail, and will on top of that be eligible for parole after serving 1\3 of his prison sentence, which is how these things usually go. So maybe he'll be out of prison and on parole in a few months?

[dsc]

10. I don't think so

First, I think he isn't getting credit for time served and I also think California has eliminated parole.

[LuvNewcastle]

14. He "agreed" to spend 21 years in prison?

How gracious of him. Too bad the dead boy wasn't offered a plea.

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Is this the same DU that gets angry when Black juveniles in Florida are sent away for decades for

crimes they commit in their early teens? Does the youth of the offender no longer matter if it is a "hate" crime?

21 years sounds like a pretty hefty sentence for a crime committed at age 14. Lots of places a "life" sentence at 14 would not be as long.

[whistler162]

18. Shhhh mustn't point out the illogic of the posters...

[dsc]

19. If you can find one place

even one place where I argue for leniency for a kid who killed (other than one who was abused by his or her victim) then please post it. I do think that for say drugs, theft, etc. there is every reason to treat the juvenile differently but not for cold blooded murder which this was. Again, find a post where I argued otherwise (ie put up or well you know).