Closing Arguments in Trial of Teen Accused of Brutal Reporter Slaying

Tonight a Brooklyn jury deliberates the fate of John Katehis, the 18-year-old Satan-worshiping knife collector who admitted to the bloody slaying of radio newsman George Weber during a rough sex-for-cash-hookup gone wrong. Katehis has plead not guilty to the murder of the former ABC News Radio personality, claiming he was acting in "self-defense" when he stabbed Weber at least 50 times in his Brooklyn apartment in March 2009. Closing arguments ended last night at the close of the one week trial.

In closing arguments, defense lawyer Jeffrey Schwartz "portrayed his client as a money-desperate teenager who was lured to the apartment of a drunken predator of teen boys with a fetish for being smothered", reports the New York Post. Schwartz told jurors that "Weber gave the teen alcohol and a mysterious powdery substance before pressuring 'him to do things that made him uncomfortable' in exchange for $60."

The troubled teen claims Weber was accidentally killed during a cocaine-fueled bondage PNP session gone wrong. Prosecutors say the evidence shows otherwise.

Prosecutor Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi portrayed John Katehis as a "mature" and "cold, calculating, [Weber] had been stabbed about 50 times, and his blood-alcohol level was 1.2, autopsy and toxicology reports showed. The powder found in his apartment tested negative for narcotic drugs, said Nicolazzi. "The defendant did intentionally kill George Weber," the prosecutor told jurors. "He wasn't justified, and he wasn't intoxicated." Sensing that jurors might take issue with the age difference between Weber and his accused murderer, Nicolazzi told them they had an obligation "to leave your emotions on the courthouse steps" and to consider the "evidence coupled with the law."

Although Katehis told police that he answered Weber's Craigslist ad offering $60 for rough sex, it was actually the Queens teenager who offered oral sex, among other services, in Internet ads aimed at men. "Katehis, who was 16 when he stabbed Weber 50 times, placed an ad on Craigslist in March of 2009 offering oral sex for money," reports Gay City News. "The two men corresponded via email over several days, with Weber seeking to be tied up and smothered, an act that Katehis eagerly agreed to."

John Katehis faces one count of second-degree murder and a sentence of 25-years-to-life if convicted.

Some Background ...
Katehis: Not Guilty, Stabbed Newsman 50 Times in Self-Defense
Slain Newsman Should Have "Researched" Teen Killer
Rough Trade: 16 Year Old Satanist Confesses to Slaying
Teen Satanist Pleads "Not Guilty" to Bloody Slaying
Slain Newsman a Predator of Teen Boys, Defense Attys Claim

Comments

[Black Pegasus]

I wish him many booty rapings while in prison..

Evil sack of poo!

[FREELEO]

Jurors, please don't let that crazy boy back out on the streets.

[Taylor Siluwé]

I swear, he has the same craZy and oddly seXy look in his eyes that Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) had when he was in court.

Ramirez was also a Satan worshiper who got tons of fan mail in prison. *sigh*

[SAD]

This freak should never walk free again. I hope the jury finds this POS guilty.

[dfs]

@Taylor

Ramirez creeps me out more than any of the other notorious serial killers. He so obviously enjoyed the notoriety.