Klansman in Civil Rights Case (Edgar Ray Killen) Gets Bond

[deadparrot]

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. - A judge granted Edgar Ray Killen a $600,000 bond on Friday so the one-time Klansman can be released from prison while he appeals his manslaughter convictions in the killings of three civil rights workers.

In making his decision, Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon said he was convinced by testimony that Killen, who is 80 and uses a wheelchair, was neither a flight risk nor danger to the community.

"It's not a matter of what I feel, its a matter of the law," Gordon said, citing previous cases that were appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Killen's family was trying to gather enough money or property to post the bond and secure the release of the part-time preacher, who has begun serving his 60-year sentence for masterminding the 1964 slayings of Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050812/ap_on_re_us/civil_rights_killings

[katsy]

1. I don't understand.

I'm not a lawyer.

Is it a law to grant bond on appeals? For anyone?

[MGKrebs]

12. Here's some similar info from Tennessee.

"Every crime in Tennessee is a bailable offense, except capital crimes--that is, crimes for which the death penalty may be asked."

http://www.tncrimlaw.com/what_is/bail.html

[katsy]

15. Forgive my ignorance...

Wasn't this a capital crime?

Wasn't this a crime the death penalty MAY have been asked for... even if it wasn't for?

[MGKrebs]

16. My memory is that they charged him with murder but

the jury convicted him of manslaughter. What the ramifications of that are, I don't know, but I'm curious, so I plan to look around when I get a chance. But it is easy for me to believe that manslaughter is not a capital crime.

(disclosure- I am not a lawyer, but I play one at home.)

[katsy]

17. Thanks much MGKrebs!

[Horse with no Name]

2. This is total bullshit

When they imposed the sentence it was to make him spend the rest of his life in prison as he deserves.
What kind of happy horseshit is this?
So basically the guy just walks away.
There is no justice.

[nolabels]

8. In essence the defendant is now the weak link

He has dragged his family and his community into the whole thing because he was too proud to admit to what he did. Their defending him solidifies both sides but also educates the general populous a lot more.

Pride is for people too caught up in them selves to admit they might be wrong to anyone else


A world filled with apologists

Baptists side with Fraudulent CEO in $11B scandal

Ok.. hard to keep my mouth shut on this one.

Moral relativism and indifference surface with a pointed clarity in Southern Baptist life in the case of Bernie Ebbers, a member of Easthaven Baptist Church, outside of Jackson, Miss.
(snip)
Easthaven church members gave him a standing ovation.

At the time that Ebbers made his character defense in church, EthicsDaily.com posted two articles titled “Where Do Worldcom Execs Go to Church?” and “What Responsibility Do Churches Have for Worldcom?”.

The first questioned if churches made a difference in the behavior of corporate leaders. The second expressed concern about the individualization and privatization of Christianity, pointing out that evangelicals generally skirt a moral critique of the American market system.

Did Baptist leaders fail Ebbers with their failure to teach ethics in church and critique corporate America in their sermons?

Does the lack of critical commentary from Baptist leaders about Ebbers now, and their willingness to be character witnesses, suggest that money from wealthy members buys moral relativism and indifference from religious leaders?

It sure looks that way.

by Robert Parham who is the executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics.
(snip)
http://www.gutlesspacifist.com/gp/archives/002963.h

[Talismom]

3. How many black men convicted of such heinous crimes would be

released?:mad:

[Rich Hunt]

5. ya, I know

It's terrible.

:mad:

[whistle]

4. Appeals on criminal convictions to prison can not be bonded out!

...that's pure judicial corruption if it is allowed.

[Eugene]

6. The basis of that appeal is ridiculous!

From the BBC:

He will argue the jury should not have been able to consider
manslaughter charges as an alternative to murder.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4146894.stm

If the facts show that he killed those men,
should he walk because the state can't prove motive?

[kwolf68]

7. Ridiculous

...all i gotta say to this. This bastard is going to walk free? The POS will probably die while smelling the daiseys and never see another day of jail time.

Meanwhile, those 3 civil rights workers are still as dead as when this fucker and his racist friends killed them.

[uppityperson]

9. NO. $600,000 what an insult to those dead boy's families

maybe another tree will fall on him.

[VegasWolf]

10. The Good Ole Boy network is alive and well. Some things never die. nt

[wakeme2008]

11. He is asking his family to throw away $60,000 for a couple months

of freedom.

You have to put up 10% of a bail bond that you do not get back. OR the full amount in CASH.

Asshole.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sunkiss BlueStar]

14. He has lived long enough,

he could have continued to murder the whole time the investigation was going on......
then this happens!!!
while on trial some witness (i forget) exclaimed
"The Klan did some good things......") ,that witness should be sentenced too/imo

[alarcojon]

18. NY Times link, with more info

Judge Marcus Gordon of Circuit Court, who gave Mr. Killen the maximum possible sentence, said in court that he had little choice but to set bond while Mr. Killen appealed his conviction. Judge Gordon said the state had not proved that Mr. Killen, who uses a wheelchair, was a flight risk or threat.

"It's not a matter of what I feel, it's a matter of the law," Judge Gordon said.

Rita Bender, wife of Mr. Schwerner, said the judge had not considered the danger to the community in the broader sense.

"To me this indicates a lack of understanding the seriousness of, and conveying the seriousness of, crimes of racial violence," Ms. Bender said by telephone from Seattle, where she lives.

He's also unhappy about the medical care he has received, though he acknowledges he has been seen by doctors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/13/national/13killen.html?ex=1281585600&en=7a785596596f07fa&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss