Gay Panic Defense in Murder of N'Orleans Teacher

The killer of a New Orleans high school teacher claimed "gay panic" for having pulled a knife and murdered his victim, before making off with the man's wallet, cell phone, and car.

Louis Church admitted to killing Weston Verrette, known as Tony, a teacher at John Ehret High School, an avid gardener, a world traveler, and, according to his friends, a first-rate gentleman. reported an Aug. 20 story carried by the Times-Picayune.

The claim by Church that Verrett had come on to him was rejected by Verett's friends, who saw the 56-year-old French teacher's having taken in Church, tending to his needs with food and clothing, as a characteristic act of hospitality.

Said longtime friend, Brien Gussoni of Verrette, "He had a very hard life, and a lot of people did that [sort of thing] for him."

Added Gussoni, "You know, they'd take him in and help him."

Gussoni attributed Verrett's generosity to a consciousness of karma, saying, "It was a payback kind of thing."

Verrett's body was discovered in his home on aug. 15; Church, the son of a local policeman, was arrested the following day.

Church said that he was homeless when Verrette met him. Verrette gave Church shelter, food, and clothing, the article reported; the 20-year-old Church has been charged with second degree murder, along with lesser crimes relating to the theft of Verrette's property.

Church had been arrested previously for burglary and sexual contact with a minor, the article said.

The accused claimed that the killing was in response to a sexual advance by Verrette--a claim that the slain man's friends responded to with anger.

Verrette's friend Jane Higgins was quoted in the article as saying, "To try and smear Tony is just the last straw.

"Tony was a gentleman."

Added Higgins, "He was always a very fine gentleman, extremely genteel, with beautiful manners."

Verrette had studied to become a monk in Florence in his early life, but returned to the U.S. and became a teacher of Latin and French. He also pursued a vocation as a travel guide for student trips to foreign countries.

For Verrett, teaching was a passion. Said restauranteur Tommy LeBlanc, "He was all excited about the opening of school."

Added LeBlanc, owner of a dining establishment that bears his name, "He said he had a wonderful class.

"He was all pumped up."