TODAY IN HISTORY: Neighbour murdered three days after talk show embarrassment
A guest on a US tabloid chat show murdered the man who announced his love for him on March 9, 1995.
Three days earlier, Jonathan Schmitz had been invited on to The Jenny Jones Show, under the pretence that he had a secret admirer.
Schmitz did not know the admirer was his neighbour Scott Amedure.
Mortified by the encounter, Schmitz murdered Amedure.
The episode of The Jenny Jones Show, entitled "Revealing Same Sex Secret Crush", never aired.
Schmitz's lawyer unsuccessfully argued the "gay panic defence", and the killer was jailed for 21 years.
Amedure's family sued The Jenny Jones Show, and a jury awarded them US$29 million.
But the judgement was overturned on appeal, with the court ruling Schmitz's actions were "unforeseeable".
The Jenny Jones Show remained on air for another eight years.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
View more galleries
Most viewed in Australia
Australian woman who died after falling from cliff near Bali was Queensland ecologist
PM ‘stunned’ over Pauline Hanson’s attack on his late mother
Police called to One Nation event after clash between passer-by and volunteer
Six years ago, Australia had a $38 billion early super experiment. It didn’t go to plan
