Man pleads guilty in lesbian's death

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Man pleads guilty in lesbian's death

Fri Mar 4, 8:33 PM ET

Associated Press

SUMMARY: A man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for fatally stabbing a 15-year-old lesbian in a fight at a bus stop.

NEWARK, N.J. -- A man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for fatally stabbing a 15-year-old lesbian in a fight at a bus stop.

Richard McCullough is likely to receive a prison sentence of 25 years or less for the May 2003 attack.

Sakia Gunn and four other girls were waiting at a bus stop at 3:30 a.m. when McCollough and another man drove up and asked if they wanted to go to a party.

The girls responded that they were lesbians and were not interested. Authorities said the men began making homophobic insults, and a fight began, during which Gunn was stabbed.

McCullough, 30, had been charged under the state's bias crime statute, which gives stiffer penalties for crimes motivated by a victim's race, sexual orientation or nationality.

That charge was dropped in exchange for Thursday's plea. McCullough could have been sentenced to 118 years if found guilty on all charges.

The judge set sentencing for April 21.