Testimony Ends In Brandon McInerney Murder Trial
CHATSWORTH (CBS) — After nearly seven weeks, testimony from both the defense and prosecution in the trial of an Oxnard teen accused of killing a gay classmate is over.
Brandon McInerney, then 14-years old, shot 15-year old Larry King in 2008.
A jury of nine women and three men will be allowed to consider manslaughter... along with murder charges... for the now 17-year-old, who is being tried as an adult.
In a move that angered prosecutions, Judge Charles Campbell will include the manslaughter instruction for the jury, which is expected to get the case as early as Friday.
Prosecutors claim McInerney is a white supremacist gang member, who killed Larry out of hatred for homosexuals.
The defense claims he reacted to years of physical and mental abuse from his father, and snapped at a series of sexual overtures from Larry.
McInerney faces anywhere from 18 years to life in prison.
It would have been 55 to life, had the jury only been allowed to consider murder.
