People have said a lot of things about this case. Peltier has said at various times that he had nothing to do with it and at other times that his actions were justified.
But at some point, twelve people were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crimes for which he stands convicted. So apparently they knew.
I think a lot of people figure the FBI Agents had it coming. You said yourself they were stupid to drive into the middle of a range war in unmarked cars. I can almost buy that argument up to the point that somebody stands over them as they beg and plead and dispatches them by placing a rifle to their heads and pulling the trigger. That was not mistaken identity. That was not caught in the crossfire. That was cold blooded murder.
That's why I am in favor of a new trial instead of a pardon - especially since the earlier trial ended in an acquittal and the feds changed a lot of stuff for the second trial to avoid that.
But at some point, twelve people were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crimes for which he stands convicted. So apparently they knew.
Unless exculpatory evidence was suppressed or false evidence used - just as we are seeing probably happened in the BP agent trial. That jury found them guilty as well, given the probable prosecutorial miscalculations.
I think a lot of people figure the FBI Agents had it coming. You said yourself they were stupid to drive into the middle of a range war in unmarked cars. I can almost buy that argument up to the point that somebody stands over them as they beg and plead and dispatches them by placing a rifle to their heads and pulling the trigger. That was not mistaken identity. That was not caught in the crossfire. That was cold blooded murder.
I agree. The final execution was cold-blooded murder. The question is, did the government rig the trial to get the intended result?