There is bad news for the prosecution on the second day of jury deliberations in the trial 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. The jury is deadlocked and could be headed toward a mistrial, reports the New York Post.
"Jurors in the Brooklyn murder trial of the teenager accused in the sex-charged stabbing death of WABC newsman George Weber yesterday told the judge they were deadlocked but will return today for further deliberations. In the middle of their second day of deliberations, the jurors sent out their note telling Judge Neil Firetog for the second time that they were having difficulties. Earlier yesterday the jury asked Firetog a second time to explain 'reasonable doubt.'"
Closing arguments ended Monday after the one week trial. 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. Defense attorneys portrayed the slain newsman as a drunk predator of teenaged boys who "lured" the then-16-year-old under false pretenses.
Prosecutors say the evidence shows otherwise and that Katehis was a hustler and a cold blooded killer. Although Katehis told police that he answered Weber's Craigslist ad offering $60 for rough sex, prosecutors proved that it was actually the Queens teenager who offered oral sex, among other services, in Internet ads aimed at men.
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
Closing Arguments in Trial of Teen Accused of Brutal Slaying
Something sounds SOOOOOO tricky in this case. I am just not feeling comfortable about this. There is something in his eyes and it's a brokenness that feels historical.
Posted by: TheRevKev | 28 October 2010 at 11:00
There's something in his victim's eyed that feels, what's the word, oh yeah - dead.
Posted by: ger | 28 October 2010 at 15:59