Judge Throws Out Charge In Gay Attack Killing

[William769]

(Philadelphia) A judge threw out a manslaughter charge on Wednesday against a man who fatally stabbed a teenager who allegedly attacked him because he is gay.

Lucas Dawson, 21, was walking from his home in the city's East Mount Airy neighborhood on Oct. 29 to catch a bus downtown, where he planned to meet with friends to discuss his audition for "American Idol" the day before.

Dawson said Gerald Knight, 17, and six others began taunting him, chased him down and started beating him. Dawson pulled out a small knife and waved it at the teens. After Knight punched him, Dawson said he stabbed him in the chest; Knight died within an hour.

Dawson called police after the attack and led them to the knife. He was charged with manslaughter. (story)

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/11/111005phillyMurder.htm

Good to see that there still is justice in some places in America.

[JoshWatermanMN]

1. Good to read that he is out . . .

. . . but what of the other six guys who are on the loose that participated in the bashing? Since they were probably chums with the dead guy, shouldn't they be traceable with a little detective work? What is being done to go after them to bring them to justice?

[Rowdyboy]

2. Thank you for catching this....I've been fuming since I read the original

story, furious to think that poor kid was in jail for defending himself against 4 thugs who thought they would stomp on him for awhile.

I understand the other three threatened to kill him, so he's propbably not home-free, but at least he isn't in a jail cell being raped and abused.

[William769]

4. I have been fuming also.

Being retired Law enforcement, this case stunk to high heaven from the beginning!

[sui generis]

3. Well it's very sad that someone died BUT

when six people attack you, it's pretty much a given that you are going to either die yourself or at the very least be maimed for life.

Why people think they have a right to beat up someone for being gay (or, fill in the blank) is beyond me. Funny that they're titling it "Philly Murder" though. Wonder what that's about.

[zbdent]

6. I believe that the words "Matthew Shepherd" were running through

the teen's mind at the time he was attacked . . .

[kevinbgoode]

5. GOOD!

And it's rather strange that there are no suspects coming forward at this point....which rather tells me those six don't want to get questioned about their actions that night.

[davidinalameda]

7. whoo hoo!

thank the gods

[kweerwolf]

8. This is wonderful news except ...

for this line in the story:

Dawson said he plans to leave home now because he fears retaliation.

It's sad that he has the leave his home out of fear that the rest of the "Philly Young Repugnantcans" will come looking for him in revenge.

[mitchtv]

9. three cheers for the activist judge

is mr Dawson white? I guess yes ;a black man or Latino would be still fighting to get out . A strait white man wouldn't even have been arrested

[Guy Fawkes]

10. I'm glad he got off...

I still have a hard time with self-defense cases like this, though. I used to be completely anti-gun/anti-violence, and I'm having to change my opinions over cases like this.

I still don't know about concealed carry laws. I'm going to spend some quality time thinking about it.