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

Skip to comments.

Ray Killen Guilty of Manslaughter
AP ^ | 6/21/05 | Misterrob

Posted on 06/21/2005 9:37:38 AM PDT by misterrob

Robert Byrd's former compatriot was found guilty of manslaughter....


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; US: Mississippi
KEYWORDS: edgarraykillen; kkk; klan; raykillen; robertbyrdshomie
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 261-280281-300301-320321-328 next last
To: California Patriot
You might have a point if Killen represented a danger to society today. He doesn't.

That's not the only reason we prosecute crimes. We also prosecute them to let others know that they can't get away with crime. This prosecution sends the message to murderers that it doesn't matter how long it's been - you still may get prosecuted for it. That's why murder isn't covered under the statute of limitations - it doesn't matter how long ago it happened or whether or not the perp is still dangerous or not. If he did it, he should be punished under our system of justice.
281 posted on 06/23/2005 10:41:46 AM PDT by Stone Mountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 264 | View Replies]

To: johnb838
You're right of course, but there comes a time when it's too late to do much good. Have fun putting a sick old man in prison. That really does your cause a lot of good.

It may not be the ideal solution, but it sure beats letting a murderer go free.
282 posted on 06/23/2005 11:02:02 AM PDT by Stone Mountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 276 | View Replies]

To: F.J. Mitchell

Sick! LOLO(L


283 posted on 06/23/2005 3:08:07 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 279 | View Replies]

To: murdoog
"I think some intrepid freepers should see if they can find KKK crimes from that period that Byrd can be linked to."

Somebody just might be researching that little subject already.

284 posted on 06/23/2005 3:10:08 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 277 | View Replies]

To: California Patriot

why'd they wait so long to nail this guy?


285 posted on 06/23/2005 3:13:14 PM PDT by ken21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 271 | View Replies]

To: Stone Mountain
"It seems to me that he actually received two fair trials..."

Bingo! And the case of Killen is closed until the 'Preacher' meets his Maker. That applies to all the others just like him, including 'Sheets' Byrd.

286 posted on 06/23/2005 3:16:33 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 280 | View Replies]

To: ken21
"why'd they wait so long to nail this guy?"

Killen, in part, nailed himself due to his ongoing antics with the Klan right up until he was rearrested.

287 posted on 06/23/2005 3:18:20 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 285 | View Replies]

To: Stone Mountain

We don't hang people for stealing horses. We hang people so others won't steal horses.
Old West Saying.


288 posted on 06/23/2005 3:19:52 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (Vote a Straight Republican Ballot. Rid the country of dems. NRA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 281 | View Replies]

To: M. Espinola

I'm sorry the terms "rednecks" and "good old boys" are not interchangeable, nor are they synonymous with racism. It's sad and unfortunate that you have bought into the negative liberal media stereotype of these phrases.

In the south farmers and anyone who works out in the sun are often refered to as a "redneck" and "good old boy" usually means that you're a good guy or easy going in temperment.

I'm proud to say I'm a "redneck" and "good old boy"!


289 posted on 06/23/2005 3:43:24 PM PDT by Bee-9 (American By Birth, Southern By The Grace Of God!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 254 | View Replies]

To: ken21

"Why'd they wait so long"

Well, the liberals' assumption is that they were racists, or afraid of racists. A more generous explanation would be that the evidence wasn't there.

Why do you assume the liberals' explanation is right? Aren't they wrong about damned near everything?


290 posted on 06/23/2005 3:50:12 PM PDT by California Patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 285 | View Replies]

To: Bee-9
What was Killen? A respected social sophisticate? He was as redneck as one can be. And the term is 100% connected with racist Klan types since that's what those low life's term each other.

I do not require a pack of commie loving liberals to understand what a redneck is.

That bit, 'we all are just 'good old boys' does not wash with me.

291 posted on 06/23/2005 3:52:39 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 289 | View Replies]

To: California Patriot

ah did not assume the libs were right.

you said that.


292 posted on 06/23/2005 4:18:28 PM PDT by ken21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 290 | View Replies]

To: California Patriot
"Well, the liberals' assumption is that they were racists"

Come on....give everyone a royal break, the Klan were/are the worst kind of demented racist terrorists, right up there with the death cult jihadists. They even wear similar bed sheets.


293 posted on 06/23/2005 4:43:34 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 290 | View Replies]

To: M. Espinola

You didn't follow the thread, I'm afraid.

I never suggested that the Klan might not be racists. Of course they are.

What I clearly said was: The liberal assumption about previous prosecutors in Mississippi is that they didn't bring a new case against Killen because they, the prosecutors, were racists. I pointed out that perhaps they just didn't think there was enough evidence.


294 posted on 06/23/2005 4:56:20 PM PDT by California Patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 293 | View Replies]

To: M. Espinola

Killen is a racist pure and simple. If he was an urban social sophisticate or country boy wouldn't matter or be relative to his being a racist.

The only thing 100% connected to the negative sterotype of the terms would be the media and some Northen urban types.

You don't have clue of what the true Southern meaning of "redneck" or "good old boy" is .... only your own wrong bias misguided media induced sterotype.

I hate to hurt your ego, but your statement, "That bit, 'we all are just 'good old boys' does not wash with me." is of little importance to me or other Southerns.

I was just pointing out that you are sterotyping people in the usage of those terms. Your attitude is a bit surprising considering your supposed anti-prejudice views.


295 posted on 06/23/2005 5:10:41 PM PDT by Bee-9 (American By Birth, Southern By The Grace Of God!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 291 | View Replies]

To: Bee-9
"Killen is a racist pure and simple"

Agreed/

As one of those 'Northern urban types' I will not ignore the fact there are rednecks in the North as well, which are referred to as 'hicks', since we don't have 9 to 10 months of roasting humid heat to produce the classic the 'red neck'.

As far as 'Southerners & Northerners', how about just plan Americans, since our enemies overseas don't really give a damn what state an American happens to live or was from.

296 posted on 06/23/2005 5:38:33 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 295 | View Replies]

To: California Patriot
I believe to a degree the political climate in Mississippi producing the waves of racial terrorism over which voters had the 'right to vote was deeply entrenched all all levels of state government. The enactment of civil rights laws was viewed as a resounding defeat for the Klan minded politicians and naturally there were not about to re-open a case against someone they considered one of their own.

Things have changed for the better. In my opinion Killen should have been convicted of 1st degree murder but 60 years in prison produces the same result - justice.

297 posted on 06/23/2005 5:46:25 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 294 | View Replies]

To: M. Espinola

60 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction is illegitimate. The judge took the law into his own hands. Again, that might be OK if the defendant were a danger to society. Edgar Ray Killen isn't, however much we might hate him.

I would like to know what the specific evidence was that Killen intended for the young men to be killed. It seems to me that he intended for them to be beat up, then when it turned out to be a murder, he helped cover it up. If there was strong evidence that Killen intended a murder, it clearly wasn't strong enough for the jury. The fact that a jury in 1967 found strong evidence for murder can't be used in a court of law. What matters is what THIS jury saw. You can't piggyback on a near-conviction from 37 years ago to produce a new conviction now if the evidence isn't there. This jury decided the evidence wasn't there for murder and produced a manslaughter verdict. That just isn't murder. Killen received a murder sentence today based on the judge's personal opinion, and, I suspect, political pressures.

If you look at this calmly and rationally, it's very ugly indeed -- a sad day for American justice, because it could happen again to more sympathetic -- indeed, even to innocent -- people. Killen was neither, since he almost certainly had some culpability. But don't think they'll stop with him.


298 posted on 06/23/2005 9:47:46 PM PDT by California Patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 297 | View Replies]

To: California Patriot
The 60 years is divided by 3 murdered victims. The sentence is far too light in respect to this unrepentant killer.

If "The judge took the law into his own hands what did Killen do when he and his goons conspired to commit and cover up these hate crimes.

"But don't think they'll stop with him."

I hope that trace down & convict every last interconnected Klan terrorist regarding this case and any other from the era of Southern segregation. That also applies to Robert Byrd, who is a total disgrace to the United States Senate. What's that bastard hiding under his sheets?

299 posted on 06/23/2005 10:32:06 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: truthluva
Dude, I wasn't ripping your state at all, but what I was ripping was racism. Apparently we come from good families who raised their children to be tolerant and wise. Your state IS FULL OF REDNECK RACISTS and I will stand by that. MY STATE IS FULL OF REDNECK RACISTS and I will stand by that. YOU sir, are ignorant to beleive it isn't because you live in a nice tolerant neighborhood. Congratulations. I didn't say your ENTIRE state was full of them, it just has its share and I see at least one example every few months I go there.

Example, my friend of the very last time I visited your state. While on the beach, a boat came along shore full of people in it and got a tremendous chuckle by yelling.. NIG*ERs at the handful of blacks on the beach. If that is not racism... and redneck then please feel free to educate my ignorance on that subject. See you are not only ignorant, but blind to what goes on around you. Congratulations on your sweet little neighborhood that loves people of all races and religions. You need to step outside and see the rest of your state. I don't know anything about YOU except what youve told me. I do know of several occasions of people UNLIKE you who hurl racial epithets right and left. I do not know anything about them either or why they feel this way.

I told you in my last post I loved MS and visit and play golf there at least 6 times a year. YES the majority of folks are kind, loving people but you cannot deny that its still full of those who preach racial inequality. Its guys like me who tell the people who don't know what goes on while you live in your little utopian community. Try to sell your ignorance arguement to someone else. I didn't post this to rip on your state, if you would pay a little more attention, (which would help in your points in your posts) you will see that I like it there, my family there who has lived there ALL THEIR LIVES are not racists. But there are those who continue to breed hatred right under your nose.

300 posted on 06/24/2005 6:31:45 AM PDT by Bigturbowski
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 261-280281-300301-320321-328 next last

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