The same judge and prosecuter who convicted Peltier also convicted the confederates of Gordon Kahl in the February 1983 shoot-out at Medina, North Dakota which left two U.S. Marshalls dead. From what I read of that trial, it wasn't exactly on the up-and-up, so I can't help thinking there is a chance Means might be right about Peltier. The fact that the jury refused to impose the death penalty in the Peltier case indicates that they may have had their doubts as well. North Dakota's capital murder statues are so narrowly defined as to almost be non-existent, so I don't beleive prosecutor Lynn Crooks even sought it in the Kahl case. South Dakota, however, does have a clear death penalty statue.
>>FWIW, Russell had nothing to do with the assassination of a couple of FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He wasn't even in the general vicinity.
Thanks for the info. I knew it had something to do with AIM but didn't research or know the particulars.