Verdict in Civil Rights Murders - Guilty of manslaughter

Ex-KKK Member Convicted in 1964 Killings

"Attorney General Jim Hood told reporters after court recessed that prosecutors would ask the judge to allow the jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter in the case. Killen is charged with three counts of murder, which could lead to a life sentence. A manslaughter conviction would carry a maximum of 20 PHILADELPHIA, Miss. - An 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klansman was convicted of manslaughter Tuesday in the 1964 slayings of three civil rights workers — exactly 41 years after they disappeared.

The jury of nine whites and three blacks reached the verdict on their second day of deliberations, rejecting murder charges against Edgar Ray Killen.

Killen showed no emotion as the verdict was read. He was comforted by his wife as he said in his wheelchair. He was wearing an oxygen tube. Heavily armed police a barrier outside a side door to the courthouse and jurors were loaded into two waiting vans and driven away.

The verdict was 41 years to the date after James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were ambushed, beaten, and shot.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050621/ap_on_re_us/civil_rights_killings;_ylt=AgL7P0Eye4Ymdv8XnsQSxM.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

meaning he was involved in the killings but it wasn't as bad as murder?

Lesser charge then murder - murder in the commission of another crime.

Manslaughter committed during the commission of another crime, to wit: kidnapping.
John
Watching Court TV

But a lot of times, prosecutors will plea down to manslaughter just to get the conviction, because the burden of proof for manslaughter is not as great as for murder. Especially in an older case, where it's hard to get solid evidence as to the exact order of events or the mindset of the participants.

degree murder.

And given those three boys were chased in their car and forced off the road where they were shot sort of implies premeditation.

but didn't really mean to kill or hurt him.

... during the actual killings at the turnout was thin. Since the maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of manslaughter is, in effect, the same as if he were convicted of 1st or 2nd degree murder, the prosecution gained a higher degree of certainty of conviction with only a loss of distinction where there's no difference.

These killings ("Mississippi Burning") occurred immediately subsequent to my leaving the South (Mobile), and simultaneous with my 21st birthday. I'll never forget feeling "freed" of the oppression of living in such a culture as a "rite of passage" in becoming an adult.

Evil motherf*cker.

they were prepared for it

doubt about it. So how can anyone reconcile that fact with a finding of manslaughter?

They did not want to convict the evil bastard in the first place. I say it's murder plain and simple. That evil old bastard should live the rest of his sorry life in prison. He killed those people 40 years ago. He got 40 good years after he brutally killed those people, 40 good years he got. I say let the last 5 or 10 years of his life be spent in prison. Manslaughter is not good enough IMO.

That link is several days old.

Where did you hear that a verdict was in? I can't find one anywhere.

found that explained the manslaughter charge.

They were never going to get a murder charge to stick to that guy. This is as good as could be hoped for. A huge victory.

Justice delayed is not justice denied.

The three civil rights workers killed in 1964 were: Michael Schwerner, 24, of New York; James Chaney, 21, from Mississippi; and Andrew Goodman, 20, of New York.

~ RIP ~