An ongoing case has raised concerns of potential anti-gay bias in a 1982 murder conviction. The attorney of William McDermott, who was convicted for fatally shooting his boss at a Massachusetts golf course, argued that the trial was tainted by “egregious” anti-gay bigotry. According to the defense, this bias necessitates the overturn of the murder conviction or its reduction to manslaughter. The appeal was heard on Monday by the state’s highest court, which convened to reevaluate the trial proceedings.
Of note, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd along with the rest of the panel recognized that McDermott’s trial had been “infected with homophobia.” This persisted despite McDermott’s own claim of self-defense, as he alleged an impending sexual assault by the victim. However, the court judges found themselves in a position of conflict due to McDermott’s subsequent communications with the Parole Board. Notably, McDermott has, since his trial, highlighted that his claim of self-defense was, in fact, a falsehood.
The ongoing appeal serves as a stark reminder of the persistence of biases and discrimination within the legal proceedings and their potential impact on a fair trial. The outcomes of the appeal are not known as of this writing. For more details on this case, you can read the complete account here.