Accused killer of
gay Colorado man pleads not guilty

One of the two men accused of killing a gay Colorado man last July has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, the Denver Post reports. The two-week trial for defendant Jason Fiske is now scheduled to begin in January of next year.

Fiske and 21-year-old Adam Hernandez were charged with murder after Kevin Hale's body was found in a Montrose park on July 31, 2005, the Post reported. Hernandez told authorities that he jumped on Hale from behind and that Fiske then put Hale in a choke hold. An autopsy report showed Hale died of strangulation.

Hernandez, Fiske, and Hale had been at the same nearby pub the night before, and Hernandez said he told Fiske he wanted to beat up Hale because Hale had made sexual advances toward him. Hernandez reached a plea agreement last month and was sentenced to serve six years for manslaughter and two years for theft. (The Advocate)