21-Year-Old Found Guilty in Murder of Upstate N.Y. Gay Bar Owner

Louis M. Duffy, 21, was found guilty of the murder of the owner of a gay bar in Elmira, N.Y., a small Upstate small city on the Pennsylvania border.

Duffy shot Clinton "Billy" Lewis in the head after they had consensual sex at Lewis' apartment in May. Lewis, 53, was the owner of a gay bar called Club Chill, which is located across from Lewis' home,The (Corning, N.Y.) Leader reported in a Nov. 17 article.

The young man admitted to the murder; however, Duffy's lawyers wanted him to be convicted of manslaughter instead of homicide. His attorneys claim that Duffy shot Lewis because he was under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance.

During Duffy's testimony, the 21-year-old expressed regret for killing Lewis and said he wished he could trade places with him. Duffy was silent while the verdict was read but was not emotionless.

Duffy claimed he went to stay with Lewis on the morning of the murder because the bar owner offered him a construction job. He also said that he had no intention in having relations with Lewis but allowed Lewis to kiss him.

The young man also told the court that a molestation "flashback" combined with the sexual encounter with Lewis put Duffy over the edge, resulting in the shooting. Duffy testified that his adoptive grandfather abused him when he was in the second and third grades.

Duffy also said that he is still confused about his sexuality and that he is still attracted to women but has homosexual "tendencies." Although he admitted thinking about having sex with other men since the 11th grade, he never acted on his urges until his encounter with Lewis.

"I didn't want it to happen with him," Duffy said in court. "I didn't want to try it with him."

After the two men had sex, Duffy said he felt ashamed. Duffy says that Lewis wanted the sex to continue and allegedly grabbed the 21-year-old by the throat and shoulder, causing Duffy to grab a gun from his backpack and shoot Lewis.

Duffy could receive a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He will be sentenced on Jan. 9.

Lewis' family had mixed emotions when the verdict was read.

"I'm pleased with the verdict - very pleased," said Jodi Blaha, Lewis' sister told the newspaper. "It does feel like justice ... My brother was a very good person and he would do anything for anyone. He shouldn't have died."

Lewis' cousin said that justice was served but it would not bring him back. Duffy's mother was visibly upset and did not speak to the media.

Scott Fierro, one of Duffy's attorneys, said that they will most likely appeal the verdict.

In a similar case, an 18-year-old was recently convicted of murdering a radio host in New York, according to a Nov. 16 article by EDGE. John Katehis, 16 at the time, met George Weber, 47, through an ad on Craigslist in March 2009. Katehis agreed to be paid $60 for a night of violent sex but things got out of control and the teen ended up stabbing Weber to death.