Apr 18, 2003   | COMMENTS     

Confessed killer of gay Dutch politician sentenced to 18 years

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- The man who confessed to killing gay Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was convicted of murder April 15 and sentenced to 18 years in prison. "All considered, a sentence of life imprisonment would not be appropriate in this case," said Presiding Judge Frans Bauduin. Prosecutors said they were still considering appeal. The judges said the murder was premeditated, but that the chance of repeating the crime was small and the defendant deserved a chance to be rehabilitated. Van der Graaf, 33, testified that he shot Fortuyn on May 6, 2002, to stop him from gaining power. He said that he regretted the killing, which occurred nine days before elections in which Fortuyn was expected to become prime minister. Van der Graaf will likely serve two-thirds of the sentence and could be released by 2014.

Calif. appeals court asked to reinstate murder rap in dog-mauling case

SAN FRANCISCO -- The state attorney general's office filed an appeal April 11 to reinstate the murder conviction of Marjorie Knoller in the dog-mauling death of her lesbian neighbor, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Prosecutors argue that trial judge Judge James Warren improperly second-guessed jurors and overstepped his authority by reducing the verdict to involuntary manslaughter. Knoller and her husband Robert Noel were charged with murder in the January 2001 death of Diane Whipple, 33, when two 120-pound Presa Canario dogs that the couple kept attacked her. Warren sentenced Knoller and Noel to four years in prison, and they appealed the convictions. Deputy Attorney General Amy Haddix said the "overwhelming evidence of Knoller's willingness to lie under oath" included her assertions that she had never seen either dog act aggressively, testimony contradicted by seven witnesses. A lawyer for Knoller disputed the state's arguments.

Three charged with hate crime, torture, murder in Calif. killing

SALINAS, Calif. (AP) -- Dental records confirmed Monday that a body discovered last week is that of a bisexual man who was missing since December. Investigators received a tip last week that led them to the body. Two men and one woman were arrested in the case April 11 and were charged Monday with murder, torture and kidnapping in the commission of a hate crime. Police said the dead man is identified as Robert Maricle, 30, who was last seen Dec. 14 leaving the home of a friend. Dominique England, 23, Jeanne Soja, 29, and Daymon Schrock, 20, are being held on $1 million bail each. They are expected in court April 22 to enter pleas. Police allege the trio killed Maricle in part because of his sexual orientation. A hate crime enhancement could add up to four years to their sentences if convicted.

Mass. high school student beaten after attending gay rally

CONCORD, Mass. -- A 16-year-old student was found unconscious near her home April 10 after being beaten in the head with a blunt object, police told the Boston Globe. The student, whose identity was not released, was hospitalized and released on April 14. A day before the attack, the girl attended a "Day of Silence" assembly at school sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. The group said in a statement that friends reported the victim "was harassed with homophobic epithets by her alleged attacker for participating in the national Day of Silence." Concord Police Chief Len Wetherbee said it is unknown if the crime was connected to the rally. A school official said there is no evidence that the student was harassed at the rally.

Lawsuit filed against gay LAPD deputy chief in molestation case

LOS ANGELES -- A 41-year-old man filed suit April 7 against gay Deputy Los Angeles Police Chief David Kalish, alleging that Kalish sexually abused him over five years in the 1970s, the Los Angeles Times reported. The plaintiff, whose name is withheld, alleges that Kalish began "exploiting" him when he was 14 as a member of a police at-risk youth program. Kalish, 49, was relieved of duty March 29 after a five-month criminal investigation in which police said they found substantial evidence of abuse. Six people claim they were victimized by Kalish. "We believe there are other victims out there, and we hope that they too will have the courage and strength to come forward," said Todd A. Walburg, attorney for the plaintiff. Walburg's client accused Kalish of "sexually fondling him, molesting him and forcing, coercing and inducing him to engage in oral copulation and other similar acts" while Kalish "was in his police uniform, carrying a gun, in his police vehicle and on duty." Kalish is a 28-year LAPD veteran and the force's highest ranking gay officer.