The 16-year-old suspect in the
so-called “gay slay” of New York City radio journalist George
Weber is claiming he was victimized, reports the Gay
City News.
“He's absolutely the victim, morally,
he's the victim,” said Jeffrey T. Schwartz, John Katehis attorney,
following a May 8 court appearance.
Police nabbed Katehis on March 24, a
Tuesday, four days after officials believe Weber was stabbed to
death. Weber was found dead on Sunday – his ankles bound with duct
tape and the walls of his Brooklyn apartment splattered with blood.
Officials allege that Weber, 47, and
Katehis met online at Craigslist.com when the teen responded to a
personals ad posted by Weber looking for Hispanic men into rough sex.
The pair met and agreed to return to Weber's home.
Katehis told police that Weber gave him
some beer and cocaine, which made him “jumpy.” The two had
agreed on a $60 fee in exchange for rough sex that included
smothering Weber.
In a written statement to police,
Katehis claims he accidentally killed the journalist. The pair were
in the bedroom, and while he was binding Weber's legs with duct tape,
Weber took out a knife from his pocket.
“He took it out just to show it to
me, but I got nervous and grabbed the knife. I was able to turn the
knife back toward George and push it towards him, accidentally
stabbing him in the neck,” Katehis wrote.
Authorities claim Weber was stabbed
about 50 times, including in his head, his neck, the front and rear
of his torso, his arms and his hands. Police say the cuts to his
hands suggest Weber might have attempted to fight off his attacker.
Katehis' online profile at MySpace.com suggests the teen had a knife
fetish.
Schwartz called the incident a sexual
assault due to Katehis being under the age of consent – 17 in New
York – and claimed he was the victim.
“As a matter of law, it was a sexual
assault,” Schwartz told reporters. “He had an absolute right to
defend himself.”
Katehis is facing up to life in prison
if convicted on a second-degree murder charge. He remains in custody
on Rikers Island.