Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Jury convicts former KKK member of manslaughter
CBC News ^ | 21 Jun 2005

Posted on 06/21/2005 10:24:48 AM PDT by Googy

Twelve jurors have found 80-year-old Edgar Ray Killen guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964.

The former Ku Klux Klan leader had been charged with first-degree murder for his part in organizing the deaths of James Chaney, a black from Mississippi, and his white colleagues, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner from New York.

Edgar Ray Killen arrives for court earlier this month. (CP file photo) A murder verdict could have meant life in prison for Killen. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The prosecutor's office had indicated that it would be satisfied with the lesser verdict of manslaughter in order to get a conviction in the crime, which occurred 41 years to the day before Tuesday's verdict.

The case had cast a pall over the town of Philadelphia, Miss., since the three men's beaten and shot bodies were found during what became known as "Freedom Summer," when civil rights workers tried to register black voters in the segregated state.

FROM JUNE 13, 2005: 'Mississippi Burning' jurors start arriving

The three were in Philadelphia to investigate the burning of a church used to register black voters when they were ambushed by a gang of Ku Klux Klan thugs.

Their bodies were found more than six weeks later.

The case was made famous in the 1988 film, Mississippi Burning.

Killen, a part-time preacher, was the only man ever indicted on state murder charges in the case, but he was not brought to trial on those charges until this year.

Nine white and three black jurors deliberated for one day before coming up with their unanimous verdict in the case.

"How much time is enough that murder is not a crime anymore?" prosecutor Jim Hood asked before they retired for their deliberations. "How much time should pass before we say it's OK to murder?"

Killen's lawyer told the jurors that there was not enough evidence to convict his client, whom he admitted was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

"He's not charged with being a member of the Klan, he's charged with murder," said James McIntyre.

He also pointed out that the prosecution had failed to prove that Killen was present when the three victims were killed.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Mississippi
KEYWORDS: edgarraykillen
FINALLY!
1 posted on 06/21/2005 10:24:48 AM PDT by Googy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Googy

Yes, but having gotten away with it for over 40 years, we don't get justice, we just get to pay for his last few years' worth of medical bills.


2 posted on 06/21/2005 10:26:47 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: onyx

Ping aling.


3 posted on 06/21/2005 10:28:27 AM PDT by Peach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Googy

KKK member found guilty. Guess that makes him a jailbyrd.


4 posted on 06/21/2005 10:32:28 AM PDT by kenth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

What did Senator Byrd know? Is there a lost memo out there?


5 posted on 06/21/2005 10:33:18 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Googy

If Killian is really guilty, he should be punished,but on the other hand, I wonder how many people were lynched because of Sheets Byrd???????????????


6 posted on 06/21/2005 10:33:45 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Googy


7 posted on 06/21/2005 10:47:13 AM PDT by ambrose (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Freedom2005

No statute of limitations on treason.


9 posted on 06/21/2005 11:17:42 AM PDT by Jonah Johansen ("Comming soon to a neighborhood near you")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

10 posted on 06/21/2005 11:21:28 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (The theory of evolution is the great cosmogenic myth of the twentieth century - Michael Denton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: mariabush

"If Killian is really guilty, he should be punished,but on the other hand, I wonder how many people were lynched because of Sheets Byrd???????????????"

My guess is probably zero. As of 2000, only 3.2% of the whole state was black. My wife is from there and never saw a black person until she arrived at Navy boot camp. That just makes "Sheets" all that more kooky, IMO.


11 posted on 06/21/2005 11:21:52 AM PDT by L98Fiero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: reagan_fanatic

BAH! Beat me to it.


12 posted on 06/21/2005 3:06:21 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Googy

Better late than never.


13 posted on 06/21/2005 3:11:07 PM PDT by wingnutx (Seabees Can Do!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson