Lawrence King murder suspect fires public defenders
Brandon McInerney, the 14 year old boy accused of murdering gay classmate Lawrence King, has been allowed to fire his public defenders.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee allowed Mr McInerney to sack his attorneys provided by the Public Defender’s Office, once he had ensured that Mr
McInerney had not been coerced into making the decision to switch representatives.
Instead, lawyers from criminal defence firm United Defence Group of Studio City, and attorney Robyn Bramson of North Hollywood, will represent the teenager.
Mr McInerney stands accused of first-degree murder and a hate crime. He is being prosecuted as an adult.
Lawrence King, 15, who self-identified as gay and wore feminine clothing, was shot in the head on 12th February during a lesson, allegedly by McInerney, his classmate at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California.
Mr King’s family have partially blamed their son’s death on the school district for not enforcing the school dress code.
The family filed a claim against the school at the beginning of the August at Ventura County Superior Court.
Earlier this month, the court heard that Mr McInerney had “literature and drawings depicting a “racist skinhead philosophy” in his bedroom, according to prosecutors.
Mr McInerney’s lawyer called the revelation a “stunt” and said his client was writing a school report on Hitler and he and family members had a shared interest in German military