Posted on 09/16/2005 3:33:06 PM PDT by holymoly
HAYWARD, Wis. -- A verdict has been reached in the Wisconsin trial of Chai Vang, 36, accused of killing six deer hunters and wounding two others during a confrontation in the woods last November after they caught him trespassing in a tree stand.
Kelly Kennedy, of the state Department of Justice, said the judge, lawyers and other court personnel are being called back for the announcement.
Vang, a Hmong immigrant from St. Paul, Minn., testified he was called racial slurs and that one of the others fired at him before he opened fire in self-defense. Two survivors testified Vang shot first.
The jury deliberated about three hours before reaching its verdict.
Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, who prosecuted the case herself, said in her closing argument that Vang's testimony about how some of the six who were fatally shot deserved to die, and some didn't.
Lautenschlager said Vang shot the eight people, some by ambush, some by chasing them down. She said the trajectory of the bullet, the fact Vang took the scope off his gun to get a better aim and the physical evidence all corroborate the defendant's guilt.
Earlier, Judge Norman Yackel told jurors they could reach one of three verdicts for each of the nine charges -- guilty of first- or second-degree intentional homicide or attempted homicide or not guilty.
The judge denied a defense request to give the jury the option of finding Vang guilty of a lesser charge of reckless homicide.
For the sixth day, the courtroom was packed with about 100 people, most of them relatives and friends of the victims. Vang, dressed in a business suit, sat at the defense table in front of about two rows of family and friends.
Vang Testifies
Vang took the stand Thursday and said he shot the hunters because he feared for his life. The Minnesota man described in court how he shot them -- one-by-one -- after, he said, one of them fired first.
Vang said the deadly shooting spree was sparked by a confrontation with landowner Robert Crotteau.
Vang testified: "He told me, 'Do you know you're trespassing on 400 acres of land, you dang gook?' And I say, 'No,' because I don't see any sign. He said, 'I don't have to put a f------ sign ... you f------ chink. So I said, 'How do I know that this is private if you don't put any signs on?'"
When asked for his deer license tag, Vang refused and started walking away.
"When I walk, I kind of looked back and walked and looked back because I'm afraid," Vang said. "I don't know what they're going to do.'"
Vang said he saw Terry Willers, who was in the court gallery Thursday, point his rifle.
As Vang dropped to the ground, he said he heard a shot and saw the dirt kick up 40 or 50 feet away. Then Vang turned and fired.
"I shot one time. He dropped to the ground," Vang said. "And then he tried to get up. I shot him one more time. In my mind, if I don't shoot them -- they'll shoot me."
Vang said he "chased" a couple of the victims as they scrambled back to their ATVs. Vang said he thought they were going for their rifles.
When Lautenschlager asked Vang if he noticed some of the victims were unarmed, he said, 'No. I did what I had to do to defend myself," Vang said. "I was doing what was necessary to stay alive."
Get the rope.
?????????????
100% Guilty.
He's toast.
Guilty - automatic life prison term, as per CNN headline news
thanks..... quick verdict too
He's a liar and a killer.
Guilty on all counts.
The judge is now polling the jury.
He was as good as dead as soon as he sat down in that tree stand.
I really wish the prosecutor had given the jury the option of finding him guilty of manslaughter instead of murder.
Now, with their only choices a murder conviction or acquital, they'll most likely convict.
Of course, six ten-year sentances served consecutively would still effectively be a life sentance.
Did he get life without parole? Not finding anything on the tube.
You guys should have seen Ashleigh Banfield on CourtTV earlier today.
She called the hunters "morons" for using "racial slurs". She just accepted Vangs' claims as fact.
I'm not certain about WI, but sentencing often takes place days or weeks after the verdict.
Given that there really hasn't been much brow-furrowing and chin-scratching about "complex issues", a three-hour deliberation tells the tale.
How so? Are you saying the hunters planned to kill Vang?
"I really wish the prosecutor had given the jury the option of finding him guilty of manslaughter instead of murder. "
Why?
Good call - guilty on all counts is the word.
Oh, my goof, sorry... Sentencing comes later. Can you tell I wish I lived in the Old West, lol?
Isn't she a Canadian?
that's where Banfield works now, CTV?
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