A 14-year-old
Southern California boy has pleaded not guilty to the
murder of his gay classmate.
Brandon McInerney
entered the plea in Ventura County Superior Court on
Thursday. McInerney is charged as an adult with first-degree
murder and a hate crime for the February 12 fatal
shooting of 15-year-old Larry King at their junior
high school in Oxnard.
King sometimes
wore makeup and told friends he was gay.
Defense attorney
William Quest said in court that the charges are
''essentially a death sentence'' for McInerney, and wants
the boy tried on the lesser charge of manslaughter.
McInerney faces
51 years to life without the possibility of parole if
convicted. (AP)