Nineteen-year-old John Katehis was sentenced to the maximum of 25 years to life in prison for the brutal March 2009 stabbing death of a gay radio reporter he met through Craigslist, report the Daily News and Gay City News.
Katehis is the Satan-worshiping hustler who confessed to the bloody slaying of radio newsman George Weber during a rough sex-for-cash-hookup gone wrong. Katehis’ first trial in October 2010 ended in a mistrial. He was convicted of second-degree murder in November.
The teen killer expressed remorse at sentencing, reports GCN.
After a very brief statement in which he said he was "sorry" for killing George Weber and felt "regret" for the pain he caused the slain man’s family, John Katehis received the maximum sentence. Jay Cohen cited his client’s youth –– he was 16 when he killed Weber –– in asking the court for "compassion." After that, Judge Neil J. Firetog, without any comment, handed down the maximum sentence, under which Katehis must serve at least 25 years, less the two-plus years spent in jail since his arrest, before being eligible for parole.
For a moment after receiving his sentence, Katehis kept his head facing forward, but as he was about to be led from the courtroom, he turned back toward the gallery, where his father Spiro sat with several young women, and showed a grin.
Defense attorneys have portrayed the slain newsman as a drunk "predator" of teen-aged boys who "lured" the then-16-year-old under false pretenses. Prosecutors said the evidence showed that Katehis was a cold blooded killer.
Katehis plead not guilty to the murder of the former ABC News Radio personality, claiming he acted in "self-defense" when he stabbed Weber up to 50 times in his Brooklyn apartment. The troubled teen claims Weber was accidentally killed during a PNP-fueled bondage session gone wrong.
There were no drugs in Katehis' system, according to the police report. Although Katehis told police that he answered Weber's Craigslist ad offering $60 for rough sex, prosecutors proved that it was actually the teen who offered oral sex, among other services, in Internet ads aimed at men.
Some Background ...
2nd Degree Murder Conviction for NYC Teen
Opening Arguments in Retrial of Teen Accused of Slaying
Hung Jury in Trial of Teen Accused of Brutal Newsman Slay
Jury Deadlocked in Trial of Teen Accused of Reporter Slaying?
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
so he killed a pedophile.
Posted by: cj | 13 December 2011 at 17:50