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It comes to this:  If the victim was killed because his killer wanted to rob him, it’s first degree murder and the killer gets life in prison.  But if the victim was gay and made a pass at his killer, then it’s manslaughter and a slap on the wrist…

Gay Motive Could be Difference in Years or Life

Gonzalez says back in 2003, he met Trevino on the street and went to his Central Fresno apartment to drink beer. But, he says he was shocked when Trevino made a pass at him and reacted by stabbing Trevino to death.

Michael Idiart, Defense Attorney, said "If you believe that pass, that sexual advance was made then I believe it’s going to come down to two choices– murder-two or voluntary manslaughter." Idiart says both men were drunk and his client killed Trevino in the heat of the moment.

The prosecution says Gonzalez only wanted to Rob Trevino, a factor that would make him guilty of first degree murder…

Dig it.  The robbery makes it first degree murder.  But the victim’s sexuality makes it voluntary manslaughter.  And drooling morons like Richard Cohen wonder why we’re fighting for hate crime laws.