Brandon McInerney ; "I'm going to kill him because he's gay"

CA, Ventura County Superior Court, room 27 where the preliminary hearing for Brandon McInerney,who has been charged with Willful, Deliberate, Premeditated Murder, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm as well as a Hate Crime for shooting Lawrence King execution style while he sat in his computer class on Feb 12th 2008.

Today 6 police officers, the Ventura County ME and a crime scene tech gave testimony about the investigation of the Larry King shooting at E.O. Green Middle school in Oxnard. They testified regarding their reports of eyewitnesses, crime scene details, autopsy reports, as well as results of interviews with the victims friends, the defendant's friends and girlfriend.

Detective Luis Mancha reported that "Samantha C.",(the full names of minor witnesses were not identified in open court) McInerney's girlfriend said that the weekend before the murder McInerney told her he was going to kill a guy because he was"gay and stupid."

prosecutor Maeve Fox asked Detective Mancha if he had asked Ms C about her boyfriends skinhead and Nazi interests but she replied that she "didn't like when he talked about that, so he usually didn't around her." She told the detective that she had asked him"Is the only reason why you want to kill him, is because he's gay?" to which he replied "Yes."

Prior to that, the court heard testimony from Sargent Basinger of Oxnard PD who testified that in interview " Avery" a long-time friend of Larry King stated that McInerney was a bully, had been threatening King for a long time. When their class was studying WWll, McInerney stated the Nazis were "just like any other gang." and "It would have been really cool to be in that gang." Basinger also testified that 'Avery' told him she had once slapped McInerney in the face for a pro-nazi comment he had made. At which time Mr. McInerney, seated at the defendants table began to giggle.

In the most bizarre moment, on cross examination of the Detective, defense attorney, Scott Wippert of the United Defense Group who is taking the case, pro bono rose and stated, " The Holocaust, where many a Jew died." He asked Detective Basinger if he knew that the defendant had been doing a report on the Nazis. The witness said"No." Wippert then asked, "Is the court aware that his attorney is a Jew?' indicating Robin Bramson, second chair. 

Wippert repeatedly tried to elicit testimony that Larry King made sexual advances on McInerney and wore dresses but Foxes objections were sustained due to lack of foundation and insufficient offer of proof.

Prosecutor Fox presented evidence that McInerney had told friends that he intended to "Beat up Larry" as well as "jump Larry, beat him, and shank him" and told Kings friend, "Say goodbye your friend, you won't won't be seeing him anymore." McInerney while younger, was at least a head taller than the 5'4" 111 lb Larry King.

When the hearing resumes Tuesday, Prosecutor Fox is expected to present more hate crime evidence.