But you can't prove I meant to kill her!

I guess defense attornies can only work with what they're given, but sometimes, I wonder about them.

Theron Lacy stabbed a 67-year-old woman to death as she took her mid-morning walk in her own neighborhood. He stabbed her more than once in the back. Then he stole her purse and cellphone. His girlfriend was upset over what he had done, so he told her if it would make her feel better, just "think she was prejudiced." Doesn't that make this a hate crime? Lacey's attorney says yeah, he did it, but he didn't mean to kill her.

Lacy shows a great deal of remorse -- as the jury left the room, he flashed an obscene gesture at the prosecutor.

"Lawyer: Defendant didn't mean to kill." The Dallas Morning News; March 11, 2010; p. 1B.