King, McInerney Teacher Shaping Up as Key Witness

Dawn Boldrin, the teacher who witnessed the shooting of Lawrence King on February 12, 2008, has warm spots for both the gay teen and his accused killer, Brandon McInerney, according to her testimony in McInerney's trial.

Boldrin, who no longer works at E.O. Green Middle School in Oxnard, Calif., smiled at McInerney when she entered the courtroom Friday. While the prosecution says McInerney is a racist skinhead who killed King because he was gay, Boldrin testified that McInerney, now 17, was a good student who didn't cause trouble. The former teacher admitted that McInerney shaved his head and said something in class about white power, but Boldrin didn't believe that reflected his true feelings.

"It was a joke because of the way he bantered back and forth," she said, noting he had friends who weren't white, according to reports in the Ventura County Star.

On Monday, Boldrin disputed the testimony of an E.O. Green student who earlier said McInerney called her the n word and was seen hanging out at a park with white supremacists. Boldrin said it was Latino gang members who hung out at that park, not white supremacists, and that teenagers are prone to embellish facts.

But Boldrin has also expressed fond feelings for King, who occasionally wore heels and makeup to school. Boldrin and her daughter gave the gay teen a homecoming dress as well as nail polish and a leopard-print gift bag. Boldrin says she told the teen, whom she described as emotionally immature, to use makeup sparingly. Just minutes before the shooting, as Boldrin and King walked into computer class, the teacher had another suggestion for her student.

"I also told him he needed to respect others as much as he wanted their respect for being gay," Boldrin said of making public his growing gay identity. "Your classmates are young and this is hard on them and you maybe need to not be so pushy with it."

As far as encouraging King's growing interest in female attire by providing him with dresses and makeup, she said Monday that she didn't feel she was crossing a line, since he had started wearing makeup and high heels before the gifts were given.

"It seemed like the foster care he was in was not condoning it per se but at least allowing him to finally do what he wanted to do instead of fighting him on it," Boldrin said, obliquely referring to strife between King and his adoptive family. At the time of his death, King was living at a center for abused, neglected, and severely emotionally disturbed children.

Boldrin directed harsh words to E.O. Green officials, who she said have done nothing to prevent another tragedy like King's death.

"I wouldn't want to go back to the school where they treat students and me like that," said Boldrin, who was forced out of her job.

Also on Monday, E.O. Green assistant vice principal Joy Epstein testified that, after a substitute teacher expressed concern over King's appearance, Epstein spoke with administrators about the issue. It was determined that King was within his rights to wear makeup and high-heeled boots.