Posted on 02/24/2005 7:41:21 PM PST by WKB
Edgar Ray Killen's trial has been backed up a few weeks and could be the setting for protest. Judge Marcus Gordon reset Killen's trial date to April 18th. And that gives law enforcement officials time to plan for potential tense moments.
Edgar Ray Killen and his family were quiet as they entered and exited the courtroom Thursday, as was his attorney Mitch Moran, who says Judge Marcus Gordon has asked all parties to tone down talks with the media.
Moran says, "I'll have to file a pre-trial statement. It'll be in the making soon."
Both sides believe they'll be ready for the April 18th trial. That date was chosen to give more time for jury selection and to make room for national media who will be sitting in on the proceedings.
Mark Duncan says, "We're ready to go in March, April, whenever they're ready to do it."
Moran says, "Yes, I think that's fine."
Meantime, the Neshoba Co. Sheriff says he's gotten a call from a Ku Klux Klansman from Georgia wanting to set up shop to protest here during the trial.
Myers says, "I basically advised him that he was going to have to go through the judge. The judge wasn't going to put up with any nonsense around the courthouse from anybody."
The imperial wizard of the American White Knights of the KKK, J.J. Harper, says on the group's website message board he has talked with Killen by telephone. He says Killen is appreciative of the Klan's support and has encouraged them to fill the court room for the trial.
Myers says, "Any time you have factions like that the security part of it increase. We have to upgrade to the next level. We've just got to take care of whatever problem might arise."
Harper says on the website the intent is not to cause, simply to show, public support for Edgar Ray Killen.
In today's hearing, Judge Gordon ordered the state to turn over messages to the defense from a hotline that offered a reward. Names from the tips were to be covered up.
Mississippi Ping
I can't believe Killen would "want" them to fill the courtroom.
If so, that's DUMB.
I'm not familiar with this case. Who is Edgar Ray Killen, what did he do, and why does the Klan care?
From some of the interviews I have
seen with him nothing would surprise me.
He is charged with killing 3 civil rights workers
in Ms in 1964.
Here's the link to the whole summarization and time line.
http://sefb.mgnetwork.com/index.cfm?siteid=jtv&packageid=57
I saw that movie... Alec Baldwin, right?
Right, "Ghosts of Mississippi."
The guy doesn't strike me as the type that would be receiving a Nobel award in Economics or coming up with medical cures anytime soon. Hence his lack of common sense doesn't surprise me one bit.
Is Robert Byrd going to sit in on the trial?
He's the lawyer for the defense.
Agreed.
OMG!
That's hilarious.
On another roll today too.
LOL!
Thanks for the links. You'd think the last thing this guy would want is the klan showing up. Wow, 1964 was a long time ago.
That's my take too...
he's NUTS to want their support.
Yep, 41 years ago...
I was in HS. (YIKES).
Isn't the day before April 19th a pretty bad pick?
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