November 23, 2011 | Sex & Society

Gay-for-pay cousins on trial for murder

Two cousins charged with the 2010 torture and murder of  the Reverend David Strong of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., are asking that they be tried separately.

Brendan Barnes, 17, and Antonio Henry (pictured), 26, have asked for separate trials, hoping to convince a jury that the other one was responsible for the crime. The district attorney, however, thinks both men were involved and therefore should stand trial together.

Initially, Henry admitted to police that he and his cousin had stabbed Strong, claiming the pastor had made unwanted sexual advances. Attorneys for the men claim the statement was coerced. Later, Henry changed his story; the pastor had paid him to masturbate on previous visits, and it was only Barnes who attacked the victim.

However, the motive has not been clearly established. Barnes and Henry said they got high during the visit, and evidence of marijuana and alcohol was discovered in Strong's body.

Police are looking into the possibility that Strong’s sexuality may have played a role, although relatives have argued that the pastor was not gay. (Had they been more accepting, maybe the pastor wouldn't have felt the need to associate with guys like this.)

“Gay for pay” cousins are suspects in a pastor's slaying [CarltonJordan.com]