A Court of Common Pleas judge will rule later this month on whether a man accused of murder can rely on the controversial “gay-panic” defense.
In a pre-trial hearing Monday, Judge Gwendolyn Bright heard testimony in favor and opposed to accused murderer Raymond Armstrong’s plan to argue he killed his friend after the latter made unwanted sexual advances.
Armstrong, 34, is charged with the 2008 strangling death of Anthony Williams inside Williams’ Grays Ferry home.
Investigators say Armstrong arrived at Williams’ house Sept. 27 agitated and high on marijuana and caused a scene out front, attempting to vandalize several cars before Williams brought him inside.
Witnesses said Armstrong came back outside, naked, minutes later and announced, “I am God,” before laying in the street.
Investigators say that while he was inside, Armstrong beat and strangled his longtime friend.
During this week’s hearing, Armstrong’s defense attorney, Joseph Canuso, told the judge that his client suffered a panic attack after Williams made sexual advances. The Philadelphia Daily News reported Canuso as saying the attack left Armstrong “incapable of forming the specific intent to kill,” creating the framework for the so-called gay-panic defense.
Assistant District Attorney Leon Goodman argued against the use of such a defense, saying it could call for a “referendum” on the gay lifestyle.
Bright issued a gag order in the case and will deliver her ruling May 26.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].