Sentencing looms in Charlottesville attack; man seeks mercy

AP ^ | 06 23 2019 | ALAN SUDERMAN

[yesthatjallen]

The avowed white supremacist who plowed his car into counterdemonstrators opposing a white nationalist rally in Virginia two years ago, killing one person and injuring dozens, has asked a judge for mercy and a sentence shorter than life in prison.

Lawyers for James Alex Fields Jr., 22, said in a sentencing memo submitted in court documents Friday that the defendant should not spend his entire life in prison because of his age, a traumatic childhood and a history of mental illness. Fields pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes in March and is set to be sentenced on June 28.

“No amount of punishment imposed on James can repair the damage he caused to dozens of innocent people. But this Court should find that retribution has limits,” his attorneys wrote.

SNIP

Prosecutors also said that while Fields has a history of mental illness issues, it doesn’t excuse his behavior in a way that would require a lenient sentence.

“Any mental health concerns raised by the defendant do not overcome the defendant’s demonstrated lack of remorse and his prior history of substantial racial animus,” prosecutors wrote.

[PCPOET7]

I choose to trust the court system. as proven in the past video evidence is only part of the evidence and can mislead. I hope to god the jury was able to focus on the evidence and give a rightful verdict. I don’t know if a good verdict was given in this case because of how charged politicly this case is. I look at the age and the sentence. I also look at how open to interpretation of motive is and know that this case is one that I cant trust I have all the info from the news

[yesthatjallen]

I wasn't there.

I don't know anyone who was there.

I didn't know about this event until the media started reporting it in the morning.

What I know about Stormfront is from people telling me what's going on on Stormfront.

James Fields isn't a hero to me or anyone I know. What he did was atrocious. I can only speculate he did what he did out of frustration and anger at protestors and authorities that didn't keep the groups separate and maintain order.

Until the coroners' report it was said Heather Heyer died of a heart attack. The family even said so.

Family: Heather Heyer cause of death was a heart attack

It was only after the medical report that she was said to have died of 'blunt force trauma'.

Heather Heyer Death

Even so I don't know of any claim she was actually struck by the car. She may have been knocked off her feet by the crowed trying to flee.

I'm not defending Mr. Fields.

If it was vehicular homicide the police and courts should have presented it that way but it isn't. It's being reported as 'blunt force trauma' with no mention she was actually struck by the car.

My original comment refers to the fact Mr. Fields is being denied a defense any other person could use and would likely be accepted by the court.