Jury Rejects Murder Verdict In Gay Slaying

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/02/020105kyMurd.htm

A man who admitted beating and strangling to death a gay man and then stuffing his body into a suitcase and dumping it in a lake has been found guilty of manslaughter not murder as the prosecution had sought.

Joshua Cottrell, 23, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The jury also found him guilty of theft by unlawful taking of greater than $300 and tampering with physical evidence.

Jurors deliberated for nearly nine hours returning with their verdict late Monday night.


see, I believe heavily in karma--this guy is going to get his, literally or figuratively, in the end

he'll be punished

[Occulus]

1. He admitted to beating, strangling,

and stuffing the body into a suitcase- clearly trying to hide what he did- but it's not murder.

Unbelieveable. See why gay people feel like we have targets on our backs these days?

It's because we do. Really.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. ven after his aunt testified he intended to kill him,...amazing

[xchrom]

3. twelve people deliver a deadly message

to gay people.

[Rowdyboy]

4. What a farce....The jury is an embarrassment to humanity....

This was clear cut murder. I sppose we should be pleased they didn't find the bastard innocent. :eyes:

[davidinalameda]

5. chalk up another gay panic defense win

fuckers

[noamnety]

6. Do you think it was to avoid a death penalty?

That's the only possible reason I can see, that someone on the jury opposed the death penalty, and this was the only guilty verdict they could agree on as a result of that.

I can't grasp the concept that they thought luring someone to a hotel room and then killing them was self-defense.

[davidinalameda]

7. like I said

they bought the gay panic defense

why did the prosecution even give them the option of a lesser offense than murder

they had to come back with something to make them look they were doing something right

[dsc]

8. disgraceful

I think seeking the death penalty was a huge mistake here but that doesn't explain this verdict. I sure am glad I don't live in Kentucky.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. not very surprising

Just another dead faggot. That'll learn him! :eyes:

How, in this day and age, can something as ludicrous as "gay panic" defense even exist? It is reminiscent of the "Twinkie defense" in the murders committed by Dan White. Can you imagine the outrage if a Jew murdered a Christian and claimed a "Christian panic" defense based on the fact the victim was trying to destroy his way of life and acted in defense of his religion?! It would be laughed out of court!!! We, as gay people and our allies, need to run this "defense" out of the courts. I wish someone would take this to the Supreme Court and have this "defense" declared illegal!

He will know "gay panic" where he is going!

[Blade42]

10. I wonder

If a "basher panic" defense would work for us? I mean if I'm forced to shoot some scumbag who is attacking JT and I.

[arwalden]

11. What Is Wrong With These People???

[libnnc]

12. Okay kids, here we go....

what more can happen to tell us that there is a serious, dangerous mentality in this society? The implications from this verdict are chilling.

A Russian scholar and friend of mine asked an interesting question the other day in regard to Stalin's purges during the '30s...at what point do people recognize trouble and stop ignoring the signs that point to a patterned, state sanctioned violence directed at a certain group of people? Did Russians ever reach that point between apathy and terror? When their friends and neighbors were demonized and dissappeared without a trace--before they were too scared to ask questions?

Are we now at that point between apathy and terror? When do we stand up?

...or maybe I've just had too much coffee

[Blade42]

13. When do we stand up?

Define "standing up"

More protests/Pride marches?......that 70's tactic hasn't done shit, why because the people that are the problem don't go to them. And the media only shows the parts of them sells air time . Not that I'm dumping on them, but the str8s don't get that part of our world.

As far as I'm concerned it's time to start winning hearts and minds and the only way that's going to happen is to get out and mix it up with the people. And you can't do that hiding out in the closet or in a little gay friendly group.

The reason the anti-gay groups are kicking our asses is they go to the people with their message.