Charlie Robertson

Lawyers for the mayor of York argued in court that murder charges should be dropped against their client for the civil rights-era slaying of a black woman gunned down during race riots in the city in 1969. Lawyers for Mayor Charlie Robertson and eight other defendants, all of them white, said their civil rights had been violated because so much time had elapsed since the death of Lillie Belle Allen in 1969 and their arrests this year.

Lawyers for the mayor of York argued in court that murder charges should be dropped against their client for the civil rights-era slaying of a black woman gunned down during race riots in the city in 1969. Lawyers for Mayor Charlie Robertson and eight other defendants, all of them white, said their civil rights had been violated because so much time had elapsed since the death of Lillie Belle Allen in 1969 and their arrests this year.

Fighting back tears, York Mayor Charlie Robertson said that he will surrender to face murder charges in the shooting death of a black woman during a 1969 race riot when he was a police officer. "Murder is the charge," said Robertson, who narrowly won the Democratic nomination Tuesday to seek a third term. Robertson, 67, said he was innocent and will continue to campaign, though he expected to be arrested today. His alleged role in the slaying wasn't immediately disclosed.

Fighting back tears, York Mayor Charlie Robertson said that he will surrender to face murder charges in the shooting death of a black woman during a 1969 race riot when he was a police officer. "Murder is the charge," said Robertson, who narrowly won the Democratic nomination Tuesday to seek a third term. Robertson, 67, said he was innocent and will continue to campaign, though he expected to be arrested today. His alleged role in the slaying wasn't immediately disclosed.

An all-white jury was seated Thursday in the trial of three white men charged with murder in the shooting death of a young black woman during York's 1969 race riots. The jurors were selected from within York County, which is about 93% white. The city of York, about 85 miles west of Philadelphia, is about 25% black. Former Mayor Charlie Robertson is among those on trial.

Former York Mayor Charlie Robertson, 68, and two other men declined to testify in their defense in a murder trial for the 1969 slaying of a young black woman during race riots. The all-white jury will base its decision on the testimony of more than 80 witnesses. The jurors are expected to get the case before the end of the day Thursday. The men are charged in the murder of Lillie Belle Allen, who was visiting York when race riots broke out in July 1969.

The last of 10 white men charged in the 1969 murder of a black woman during York's race riots pleaded no contest to attempted murder and conspiracy. Ezra T. Slick, 53, entered the plea over his role in the slaying of Lillie Belle Allen, an Aiken, S.C., woman killed by a white mob prepared for war with blacks. He faces up to nine years in prison. Two men were convicted of murder in the case, six pleaded guilty to lesser charges and one -- former York Mayor Charlie Robertson -- was acquitted.

York Mayor Charlie Robertson, who was charged last week with the murder of a young black woman in the city's 1969 race riots, said he will withdraw as the Democratic candidate for mayor. The announcement, reported by two local newspapers, comes two weeks after Robertson narrowly won the mayoral primary. The two-term mayor defeated Councilman Ray Crenshaw, the city's first black candidate for mayor.

Contradicting police reports, a black man who allegedly threatened white gang members hours before a black woman was killed during race riots in York testified he was not driving a car similar to the one in which she was killed. James Spells Jr. was testifying in the trial of former Mayor Charlie Robertson and two other white men charged in the death of Lillie Belle Allen, who died in a hail of gunfire July 21, 1969, at the hands of a white mob.

Jury selection began in York in the murder trial of a former mayor and two other white men accused of killing a young black woman during a 1969 race riot. The courtroom rumbled when 110 of the 111 prospective jurors stood up in positive response to the judge's question on whether they had heard of the case. None stood when the judge asked whether the race of the defendants or the victim would prejudice judgment.

Attorneys for two men convicted last month in the 1969 race-riot slaying of a young black woman say a juror's trial notes may have tainted other jurors' recollections of the case. The 11 pages of typed notes violated the spirit of the state's rules of criminal procedure that are designed to allow jurors to form opinions based on their own recollections, the attorneys argue. The notes were distributed to jury members with the judge's approval.

A judge said Tuesday that he will not rule until at least next month on whether charges against nine white men accused of killing a black woman during a 1969 race riot should be dismissed. After a two-day hearing, Judge Edward Biester Jr. said he would wait until Dec. 18 to hear closing arguments. Defense attorneys want the charges dismissed, saying too much time has passed since the slaying to guarantee their clients a fair trial.