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Trial date set in stabbing death of homeless man

A trial has been scheduled for May 17 for a teen-ager accused of stabbing a homeless man to death in July.

John Hawthorne, 19, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Joel David Boner, 32, in July. The trial is set for May 17.

Ocoee police said Hawthorne and a friend found a camp where some homeless people live on land once owned by Hawthorne's family. Hawthorne and Boner argued, and Hawthorne cut several items belonging to Boner, leading to a fight. During the fight, Hawthorne pulled out a 6-inch pocketknife and stabbed Boner, police said.

Hawthorne and his friend went home, showered and cleaned themselves up but did not offer any assistance to the victim, who stumbled onto the road, police said. Emergency personnel later took Boner to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he died.

Read the Orlando Sentinel report here. And for more detail on the case, check out the Orlando Weekly's "An inauspicious death: When a gay homeless man is murdered, does anyone care?" here.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on October 01, 2009 (boomark / email).