Brandon McInerney and Larry King An eight-week trial into the killing of a gay Californian teenager has ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to decide whether the accused was guilty of murder or manslaughter. Prosecutors claimed teen Brandon McInerney, driven by homophobic rage and white supremacist beliefs, shot 15-year-old gay classmate Larry King in the back of the head during a class. After six days of deliberations, jurors could not make a decision and prosecutors now need to decide whether to re-file charges against McInerney, now 17 but 14 at the time of the killing, who was tried as an adult. King's family reportedly rushed out of the courtroom after the judge declared a mistrial. They looked horrified and confused and declined comment as sheriff's deputies escorted them to an elevator. Defence attorneys acknowledged McInerney was the shooter but explained that he had reached an emotional breaking point after King made repeated, unwanted sexual advances.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 3rd September 2011 - 5:56pm