Hate Crimes Idaho

Jurors in Boise deliberated for the 10th day in the murder-conspiracy trial of white separatists Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris. Jurors were scheduled to reconvene Monday. The jury has contacted U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge only once. Lodge denied their request to visit Weaver's isolated cabin just 40 miles south of the Canadian border where Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan was killed in a shootout last Aug. 21.

A defense lawyer sought a new trial for the white supremacist Aryan Nations, which could lose all its assets as a result of a $6.3-million civil judgment. Edgar Steele, who represents the group and its leader, Richard Butler, argued that his clients did not receive a fair trial before the Sept. 7 verdict. Among other things, the motion alleges juror misconduct.

A defense lawyer sought a new trial for the white supremacist Aryan Nations, which could lose all its assets as a result of a $6.3-million civil judgment. Edgar Steele, who represents the group and its leader, Richard Butler, argued that his clients did not receive a fair trial before the Sept. 7 verdict. Among other things, the motion alleges juror misconduct.

In a verdict likely to bankrupt one of the nation's most violent white supremacist organizations, an Idaho jury Thursday returned a $6.3-million civil judgment against the Aryan Nations and its founder, Richard Butler--the rural Idaho pastor who has been called "the elder statesman of American hate."

In a case hinging on the question of who fired first, a federal jury heard closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of two white separatists charged with murder and conspiracy stemming from the bloody federal siege of their remote mountain cabin last year.

Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler conceded Friday that he is the absolute authority at the white supremacist sect's headquarters but said he had no knowledge of his security guards' actions when they shot at and assaulted a woman and her son. Butler's testimony began the final day of plaintiffs' witnesses in Victoria and Jason Keenan's civil rights case against Butler and his Aryan Nations church. The defense is expected to begin laying out its case Tuesday.

In a verdict likely to bankrupt one of the nation's most violent white supremacist organizations, an Idaho jury Thursday returned a $6.3-million civil judgment against the Aryan Nations and its founder, Richard Butler--the rural Idaho pastor who has been called "the elder statesman of American hate."

A lawyer for a mother and son who were attacked as they drove past the Aryan Nations' headquarters asked jurors Wednesday to award $11.26 million in damages. After six days of testimony, lawyer Morris Dees asked the jury to "send a message" to hate groups across the nation. Dees, of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center, suggested the jury award $1.26-million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

A lawyer for a mother and son who were attacked as they drove past the Aryan Nations' headquarters asked jurors Wednesday to award $11.26 million in damages. After six days of testimony, lawyer Morris Dees asked the jury to "send a message" to hate groups across the nation. Dees, of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center, suggested the jury award $1.26-million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler conceded Friday that he is the absolute authority at the white supremacist sect's headquarters but said he had no knowledge of his security guards' actions when they shot at and assaulted a woman and her son. Butler's testimony began the final day of plaintiffs' witnesses in Victoria and Jason Keenan's civil rights case against Butler and his Aryan Nations church. The defense is expected to begin laying out its case Tuesday.

Jurors in Boise deliberated for the 10th day in the murder-conspiracy trial of white separatists Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris. Jurors were scheduled to reconvene Monday. The jury has contacted U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge only once. Lodge denied their request to visit Weaver's isolated cabin just 40 miles south of the Canadian border where Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan was killed in a shootout last Aug. 21.

In a case hinging on the question of who fired first, a federal jury heard closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of two white separatists charged with murder and conspiracy stemming from the bloody federal siege of their remote mountain cabin last year.