Brad and the Peterson Murder Trial

A Call-boy who named himself Brad on his web site where he promoted himself as a male escort with nude photos in rather steamy settings was brought to court recently in Durham, North Carolina. He wasn’t there because he had violated a crime against nature. Nor was he there because he had violated laws of prostitution, even though he admitted in open court having sex with men for money. Instead the prosecution in the Michael Peterson murder trial subpoenaed Brad (not his real name) to testify against a man he had done nothing except talked dirty with in emails and had never met. Brad was given complete immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Novelist Michael Peterson is on trial accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen. She was found in a bloody mess at the bottom of the stairs in their mansion home. Peterson seems to have been the only suspect and the trial has brought national attention to the small North Carolina City with news crews and Court TV providing gavel to gavel coverage. The question that comes to mind is why the escort was called to testify at all. He had never been to the Peterson home. He had no knowledge of the murder. He had never even met Michael Peterson face to face.

Prosecutor Jim Hardin’s team must have thought he had something to help bring the defendant down. Yet Brad testified that Peterson had told him he loved his wife dearly and would never do anything to jeopardize his relationship with her. How could this young man add to the prosecutor’s case? They knew what he would say ahead of time. He had been deposed under oath and no self-respecting attorney would ever put a person on the stand without knowing what he or she would say. It is likely that the only thing that surprised anyone about Brad’s testimony was his wit and humor on the stand, even saying that one of his clients was a judge.

Defense attorney David Rudolf had attempted to keep this testimony from being heard on the basis that it would simply prejudice the jury by showing that his client is bisexual. Yet, Judge Orlando Hudson was perfectly willing to allow the testimony, even giving Brad complete immunity to get him to testify without imposing the Fifth Amendment.

In spite of all the attention given to the testimony and the great effort the prosecution went through to get him into the courtroom, Brad’s testimony added nothing to the theory that Peterson killed his wife. It is believed that she knew about his bisexuality by some. Others can’t say whether she could have had access to his computer. She had to have noticed all the gay pornography in Peterson’s collection that was out in the open in his library. Brad’s testimony could only be used in one way: to prejudice the jury against Peterson.

I find it alarming that in 2003 when sodomy laws have been struck down because people have individual freedom to have affection for whomever they choose, Prosecutor Hardin, Judge Hudson, and the supposed criminal justice system still believe it is perfectly acceptable to use sexual orientation as a weapon to legally bash and demean. I don’t know if Peterson killed his wife, but I am convinced that prejudice against sexual minorities is far from acceptable and those who manipulate people’s prejudice are guilty of a grave injustice.

Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina.  He is the author of  Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status.  Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.

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Last modified: 07/09/05