Detective Says McInerney Influenced by White Supremacists

After days of testimony in which gay murder victim Lawrence King was indirectly blamed for his own death, a police detective said in a California court Wednesday that King's accused killer, Brandon McInerney, was connected to and influenced by white supremacists and street gangs.

The defense has brought teachers and friends of McInerney to the witness stand who testified that King wore makeup, taunted male students, and watched boys dress in the locker room. But Wednesday the prosecution brought Simi Valley, Calif., detective Dan Swanson to the stand -- Swanson said he's convinced McInerney took cues from racist groups and street thugs.

"Since both of those groups have a history of committing acts of violence, that is the influence I testified that I believe spoke to Brandon," Swanson said, reports the Ventura County Star.

Defense attorney Scott Wippert's questioned Swanson's expertise on white supremacists; Swanson said he's been studying the racist, homophobic groups for the past decade.

Earlier this week, McInerney's older brother Brian testified that World War II memorabilia the suspect had, including a book on SS youth, an Iron Cross medal, and a video called Shooting in Realistic Environments, belonged to him, not Brandon McInerney.

The trial is now in its sixth week.