Copyright 1993 by UPI.
Reposted with permission from the ClariNet Electronic Newspaper newsgroup
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	WILMINGTON, N.C. (UPI) -- The defense lawyer for one of three Marines
accused of beating up a homosexual in a January bar brawl argued Tuesday
that the defendants were defending themselves and the alleged victims
initiated the melee.
	Two of the alleged victims, attorney John Burney said in closing
arguments, wanted to commit sodomies on the Marines.
	The Marines had a right to defend themselves from complaining witness
Crae Pridgen, Burney said.
	Quoting a line from the ``Battle Hymn of the Republic'' when saying
Pridgen attacked the Marines, Burney said Pridgen ``'sounded forth the
trumpet and will never sound retreat.'''
	Witnesses testified it wasn't a gay-bashing, and Pridgen manipulated
the news media after the brawl, Burney said.
	``If you're gay and say you're bashed, you can get on any newspaper,''
the defense lawyer said.
	Marine Lance Cpls. Colin Hunt, Patric Cardone and Walter Watkins, all
stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., face three counts of simple assault.
Camp LeJeune officials say military charges could follow after civilian
courts wrap up work.
	``Pridgen was hell-bent on hurting somebody until hemet somebody that
wasn't scared of him,'' said Burney, who represented Cardone.
	Meantime, Assistant District Attorney James Faison III said the
Marines are guilty of assault and defendant Colin Hunt started the
fight. Hunt could have walked away, Faison said.
	``There is no evidence anyone wanted to perform unnatural sex acts on
the defendants,'' Faison said, reminding the judge that Pridgen was not
on trial.
	Earlier Tuesday, a witness for the three Marines challenged Pridgen's
credibility and presented a radically different version of events.
	Pridgen, who became a media lightning rod on the issue of gay
bashing, testified last week that he was just trying to stay out of
trouble during the Jan. 29 brawl. He testified the Marines who were
beating him said they were angry at President Clinton's plan to admit
homosexuals into the military.
	A fourth Marine, who has not been charged, testified last week that
he was the one who hit Pridgen, but that it was self-defense because
Pridgen had charged him.
	On Monday, the Marines testified they only threw punches in self-
defense, with one saying simply: ``I didn't hit anyone who didn't hit
me.''
	That testimony was followed Tuesday by defense witness Harold
Bradley. Bradley was a regular at the Mickey Ratz, described as a gay
bar, and now an employee there.
	On the witness stand, Bradley described Pridgen as ``a drunk,''
described him as ``violent,'' and added: ``I don't think he's a very
honest person. If someone wants to support the homosexual community,
they should do it honestly.''
	Bradley testified he saw Pridgen rush toward the Marines, but did not
see any punches thrown. The fight ``wasn't a gay bashing. It was a
regular bar fight.''
	Bradley also said that when Pridgen returned to town after appearing
-- bandages and all -- on network shows to discuss the incident, he got so
drunk he passed out.
	After Bradley's testimony, defense attorneys presented five character
witnesses, all superior officers to the Marines. They described the men
as ``highly trustworthy,'' ``well thought of,'' ``very honest,'' and 
``extremely dependable,'' and then the defense rested.