CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A man charged with killing another man and stuffing his body in a suitcase was defending himself from an unwanted sexual advance, his attorney said Wednesday in opening arguments of the trial. Prosecutors, however, said 22-year-old Josh Cottrell murdered Richie Phillips of Rineyville, Ky., because Phillips was openly gay. Prosecutor Susan Streible said Cottrell's own words indicated a dislike of gay people. Phillips disappeared June 17, 2003. His body was found a few days later, June 25, in a suitcase in Rough River Lake. Defense attorney Scott Dradenstadt said Phillips attempted to force himself on Cottrell at an Elizabethtown motel room where Cottrell was staying. Phillips had given Cottrell a ride and entered his room uninvited, Dradenstadt said. State law allows someone to use deadly force to defend himself from being raped or sodomized, Dradenstadt said.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Nancy Pelosi endorses Kamala Harris for president
July 22 2024 4:07 PM
Charli XCX declares Kamala Harris IS brat & our next President's campaign agrees
July 22 2024 3:08 PM
Pete Buttigieg roasts JD Vance and his gay tech bro billionaire
July 22 2024 1:42 PM
The AIDs pandemic can be ended by 2030, but governments must act: report
July 22 2024 1:01 PM
Conservatives' first attack on Kamala Harris: Pronouns and accessibility?
July 22 2024 12:45 PM
Advancing equality during Disability Pride Month
July 22 2024 11:30 AM