Trial Watch: Opening Statements

The McInerney trial's opening statements were delivered today, with some very differing opinions offered by the defense and prosecution.

The defense was quick to paint Larry King as a sexual predator and oppressor, with McInerney turning to the only possible solution to ending a tragic school-time victimization: shooting his tormentor. 

 

"McInerney’s lawyer, Scott Wippert, argued that King -- and not his client -- was the aggressor. He said King targeted McInerney for sexual harassment, making flirtatious remarks, and had humiliated him.

"King was encouraged in his effeminate behavior and dress by school administrators who said he was within his rights to dress that way, Wippert said.

For his part, McInerney was 'a confused, emotionally torn 14-year-old from a violent home who saw no other way out than to shoot Larry,' Wippert said. 'It was a heat-of-the-moment decision.'"

This story casting King in the role of the bully has serious problems, with the defense outlining upcoming testimony from fellow students indicating that the defendant was overheard giving threats to shoot King the day before.

"King was bullied by McInerney and other boys at the school, Deputy Dist. Atty. Maeve Fox said in her opening statement in the trial, which is being conducted at a courthouse in Chatsworth. But shortly before his death, King had begun wearing high heels, makeup and earrings to school and had become more confident in himself, she said.

"'Larry King for the first time in his life wasn’t taking it anymore,” Fox said. 'And he started to give people what I prefer to call the proverbial chin. Only it was more profane. The proverbial "f ... you."'

"The day before King was shot, the two boys had been bickering in a eighth-grade science class, she said. When King got up to get a drink of water, 'Brandon said "I am going to shoot him." And this is what a student will testify to.'"

McInerney's older brother has been banned from the proceedings, as before the trial he waited outside the courtroom and told jury members "My brother's life is in your hands." The judge declared it inappropriate and insisted the man, James Bing, stay out of the courtroom unless called to witness.

Unfortunately, this trial seems doomed to become a circus, with antics from the defense and McInerney's family aimed at smearing a dead 14-year-old's name.  More updates as the trial continues this week.