Murder Suspect, 14, Wrote About Simpson

A 14-year-old boy accused of killing his mother had written a letter expressing admiration for O.J. Simpson and made himself a “License To Gay Bash,” according to evidence submitted Thursday at a hearing to determine whether the teenager will be tried as an adult.

Judge Frank F. Fasel is not expected to rule until next week, and the hearing was set to continue Tuesday, when witnesses are scheduled to resume testifying on Connolly’s behalf.

On Thursday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan McNerney submitted two pieces of evidence, one of which was a home-made certificate that entitled Danny Connolly to “kill or beat up on homosexuals.”

Connolly also wrote a letter expressing admiration for Simpson while the former football star was on trial accused of murdering his ex-wife and her friend, attorneys said. Simpson was found not guilty.

Deputy Public Defender Michael Giannini, who represents Connolly, called a 15-year-old witness who said that both the letter and the license to gay bash were made in jest. He was “just joking around on a computer,” said Garrett Winkler, an Esperanza High School student who is close friends with Connolly.

Also testifying on Connolly’s behalf Thursday were longtime friends of Cindy Connolly, the teen’s 42-year-old mother. The youth is accused of chasing his mother through the family’s Yorba Linda home on Feb. 22 and shooting her in the back.

A sixth-grade teacher, a football coach and close friends of Danny Connolly also defended the youth, telling the judge that Connolly is a sensitive boy who loves nature, often hugs his mother’s friends and once saved a friend from drowning.

Charlene Cannan, who knew Cindy Connolly for 18 years, said Connolly appeared mad at his mother for grounding him the weekend before the slaying.