'Thrill kill' defendant says it was self defense

If J.P. killed Dan in self defense why would his freind Alex plead guilty to 2nd degree murder?

i think this is really carzy

I watched his testimony and to me he looked as though he was telling the truth. He had no hesitations in his answers. They seemed to come out natural as though he was telling the truth. I don't know all the specifics but I am wondering what other people think.

JP has a legit argument about self defense. There was no reason to mutulate the body, but it is understandable he did it in fear of his life. I know it's not right what he did, but the jury should consider the fact he was scared.

The emotionless blank expression on this boys face throughout the trial and testimony reminds me of Jeffery Dahmer. I don't understand why he would allow someone in his presence that he feared and had previously threatened his life. Especially, if he believed that Dan Sorenson was capable of harming him, his friends, or his family.

Orlewicz brought a knife to a gun fight, but look who won. Doesn't much matter when your attacked from behind!!! For me the Defense made every statement ring true that was stated by the Prosecution. this a slam dunk!!!!

Well, I dont think playing a tape where he states "I won't do any time for this..." is going to help this kid. Doesn't sound like something an innocent person would say, either. I would think "They can't find an innocent man guilty!" to be a better way to get your point across while not digging yourself a little bit deeper into the hole.

If I was in J.P's shoes I would have did the same thing. I think it was a justified self defense, and my heart goes out to both familys.

He's toast.

what will happen to alex lekteman if the jury comes back with a not guilty finding? will alex get a new trial or will he be stuck with the second degree murder charge
Thanks in advance

I've been watching this case for the last two days and I'm just sickened about this. I don't understand that if Orlewicz said it was self defense, why didn't he call the police and state that Sorenson was goin to kill him if he didn't act. Not try to cover up the scene and dispose of the body. That makes the jury think he was trying to cover it up. Orlewicz only statement is he was afraid that Sorenson's family would come after him. He would have had some sort of protection from any of those beliefs. I hope the jury brings justice and finds the truth.

Through all that I've seen, I am literally disgusted at what has happened to the victim, and that the defendant shows no sign of emotion or remorse for what he has done. I mean, C'mon, where's your head and heart. Also, I have got to say that the past of the victim shouldn't matter in some ways to the case, but it should also be looked at do to the degree of this murder. But all in all I must agree with what everone has stated, why bring a knife ( a small one at that) to a gunfight. And where on earth is J.P's wounds if he was supposedly tossed like a ragdoll...I hope to see what the outcome of this trial is!

– Erik from B.C Canada -

Who knows what really happened here. The situation is this: Orlewicz was participating in criminal behavior (going to rob someone) and got caught up in something bigger and more violent. Had he been participating in society as a responsible and law-abiding citizen, he would not be in this situation. I have no sympathy for these people in these situations. Abide by the law, be a responsible citizen, and most likely you will not find yourself in court.

If Jean planned to kill Dan why didnt he have a larger knife in the garage ? Also why didnt Jeans lawyers ask him how he felt when the gun was being pointed at him ? I had it happen to me once and I can tell you you are left legless!

How can you question bringing a knife to a gun fight, It killed him didn"t it?

Where has the time clock gone? How do we know when the jury comes in and do the anchors come back on when the jury comes in? I love In Session. I just wish it was on longer. It seems that it always ends too soon.

I am 19 year old girl and would like to make a comment on the teen thrill trial. Even if he was "self defending" himself , i think you have to be a really sick person to saw a head off or do anything else this young man did. He has been around long enough to know that if he would have called the cops and said he did the stabbing in self defense then it would be over.I hope the jury can see that he is a disturbed boy and needs to be locked up and needs mental help.

I truely believe that Jean or J.P was bullied by Daniel and I do think that it was all in self-defense .... I hope that he does not get a guilty verdict . I think that his friends are setting him up and trying to make him look bad . Do I think that that gives someone the right to be killed no .. my heart and prayers go out to Daniel's family ..... but I really believe that it was self defense and I am praying for J.P as well ....

i hope he walks

He told his friends he wanted to kill the victim and then cut his head off. So, he kills the victim and then cuts his head off. And when he claims it was self-defense... some people believe him.

i went to school with JP for 3 years. He is a nice kid, and I can not believe that he would do something like this. I would never imagine him killing someone for fun. He is not like that. I do believe that JP used self-defense. And I hope he will not get a life sentence. I do feel that what JP did is sick and wrong, but he doesn't deserve a life sentence.

Are you guys insane??? Do you know what kind of cajones it takes to saw off someone's head? That is not the act of an innocent person. It is an act of someone who gets off on killing. Even if it was self-defense, you go to police. You don't deliberately attempt to remove all identification from a body like he did. He killed and then did all he could not to get caught. That is as guilty as it gets.

drugs have been implicated. question was jp or dan a dealer,Dan dad stated he saw jp over the house twice, but dan ran to his room to get "something" then they took off. A 26 yr old hanging with a 18yr old, but never really been over each others house.or true friends come on ,

Both guilty as sin!

I think the kid is telling the truth that it was self defense. I belive in a time of danger no matter how big you are or how small if some ones going to kill you. your adrniline takes over and you are capble of saveing your own life once the table turned the kid getting stabed was doing the same trying to get the gun but orlewicz know either way with or with out stabbing him dan was going to kill him. so he keep stabing him and high school kids get scared like i dont want to go to jail so he got ride of the body fear of jail maybe parnets but i think hes telling the truth. and that it was self defence

If JP had time to plan this murder he had time to plan a self defense motive.