A federal jury here took about an hour Tuesday to convict a Neo-Nazi murder suspect of a host of firearms charges and a drug offence.
Daniel Dwight Brown, a self-avowed member of the Aryan Brotherhood, faces at least 15 years in prison on the federal charges. He also has a pending murder charge in Mobile County.
His attorney, Bill Scully, said his client will fight the federal conviction.
“I’m disappointed in the verdict,” he said. “My client steadfastly maintains his innocence, and he will do whatever he can to appeal the verdict.”
Mobile police officers investigating a shooting death in on March 11 found a pair of 9mm pistols in a Dumpster outside a bar on Swedetown Road in Theodore. Authorities contended that those guns potentially were used in the shooting of James Huddleston III, whose body was found on Rabbit Creek Road just north of Hamilton Boulevard.
An acquaintance of the defendant, Gary Paul Schreiner, testified that he knew the guns belonged to Brown.
Investigators also got a search warrant for Brown’s home and found a pair of active methamphetamine labs, a .22-caliber pistol and ammunition on March 18, according to testimony.
Brown, 40, was convicted in 2006 of third-degree escape, making it illegal for him to have firearms.
During his testimony, Schreiner told jurors and he, Brown and their girlfriends did drugs together. Schreiner also testified that he joined a white pride group in prison called Southern Brotherhood and bristled at suggestions by Scully that it was akin to the Aryan Brotherhood.
“We’re not racist,” Schreiner said. “They’re racist.”
Schreiner testified that members of the Southern Brotherhood merely are proud of their race. In a recorded interview with Mobile police homicide detective Mac R. “Rusty” Hardeman, Schreiner called the Aryan Brotherhood “ugly, hateful a-- people.”
The jury found Brown guilty of 3 counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. The panel also convicted him of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, which carries a 10-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence. The 6th charge he was convicted of, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, carries a 5-year sentence that must be served consecutively.
Scully said he would try to persuade U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose to run the prison time from the other gun charges simultaneous to the other charges.
“There’s going to be an issue, probably, if they’re going to be stacked,” he said.
AL.com
Thursday, 18 August 2011
March by far-right set to go ahead in capital despite ban demands (UK)
A controversial far-right group is set to win permission to stage a demo in Edinburgh after police chiefs said they had no objections to the Scottish Defence League being allowed to stage a parade - despite protests from politicians, trade unions and anti-racism organisations.
The group wants to march from near the American Embassy to the east end of Princes Street the day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
Critics believe the group has deliberately chosen the date to inflame racial hatred and capitalise on recent publicity linking its sister group, the English Defence League, with Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik.
The SDL has given Edinburgh City Council, which will rule on the application tomorrow, "freedom of speech" as the main reason for holding the event, which it expects to attract around 200 supporters.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill wants the protest banned, claiming the group is known to espouse "both racist and homophobic views" and expressing concern the march could pose a threat to public safety.
Local MSPS are also among those against the application.
Lothian and Borders Police has warned the local authority to consider the group's proposed demo "in the context" of the recent riots that flared across several English cities.
But it has effectively given the green light to the march, which will include a rally beside the statue of the Duke of Wellington, despite admitting the group's views are "controversial" and that a sizeable "opposition rally" is likely to be held.
Superintendent David Carradice has told the council he is confident the force can handle a demo by the SDL and any planned counter-demonstration, insisting it is used to catering for groups that want to "exercise their right to protest".
He said: "Whilst there can be no guarantees there will be no disruption to the daily business of the community, we are confident that, with the assistance of the council, an operation can be put into place to minimise such and thereby allow the SDL rally to go ahead and cater for an opposition rally too."
SNP councillor Rob Munn, chair of the regulatory committee, said it was not legally allowed to take into account criticism of the group's political stance, but could consider equalities and public safety issues.
read more at the Scotsman.com
.
The group wants to march from near the American Embassy to the east end of Princes Street the day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
Critics believe the group has deliberately chosen the date to inflame racial hatred and capitalise on recent publicity linking its sister group, the English Defence League, with Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik.
The SDL has given Edinburgh City Council, which will rule on the application tomorrow, "freedom of speech" as the main reason for holding the event, which it expects to attract around 200 supporters.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill wants the protest banned, claiming the group is known to espouse "both racist and homophobic views" and expressing concern the march could pose a threat to public safety.
Local MSPS are also among those against the application.
Lothian and Borders Police has warned the local authority to consider the group's proposed demo "in the context" of the recent riots that flared across several English cities.
But it has effectively given the green light to the march, which will include a rally beside the statue of the Duke of Wellington, despite admitting the group's views are "controversial" and that a sizeable "opposition rally" is likely to be held.
Superintendent David Carradice has told the council he is confident the force can handle a demo by the SDL and any planned counter-demonstration, insisting it is used to catering for groups that want to "exercise their right to protest".
He said: "Whilst there can be no guarantees there will be no disruption to the daily business of the community, we are confident that, with the assistance of the council, an operation can be put into place to minimise such and thereby allow the SDL rally to go ahead and cater for an opposition rally too."
SNP councillor Rob Munn, chair of the regulatory committee, said it was not legally allowed to take into account criticism of the group's political stance, but could consider equalities and public safety issues.
read more at the Scotsman.com
.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Jobbik MP arrested at Sziget Festival protest (Hungary)
Several members of the far right 64 Counties Youth Movement scuffled with security guards and later with police at the entrance to the Sziget festival Friday evening. About 70 members of the Movement attempted to enter the island festival without tickets but security guards stopped them.
Several demonstrators then blocked the way to festivalgoers. Police broke up the group and put several of them on a bus reserved for detainees. Those detained included Jobbik MP Gyula György Zagyva. Police said Zagyva and four others were detained for the misdemeanour of disturbance of order.
Zagyva asked on Sunday that his right to immunity from prosecution be lifted over the matter. He initially said in a written statement Friday night that he would not waive his right to immunity.
Politics.Hu
Several demonstrators then blocked the way to festivalgoers. Police broke up the group and put several of them on a bus reserved for detainees. Those detained included Jobbik MP Gyula György Zagyva. Police said Zagyva and four others were detained for the misdemeanour of disturbance of order.
Zagyva asked on Sunday that his right to immunity from prosecution be lifted over the matter. He initially said in a written statement Friday night that he would not waive his right to immunity.
Politics.Hu
Czech neo-Nazi on trial for fraud
The trial began in Ostrava today of David Dembinski, once a leading figure in the neo-Nazi movement in Karviná district and a well-known organizer and provocateur of anti-Roma marches. Dembinski is not being charged with a violent crime this time, as he was in the Stodolní street shooting case, but with committing fraud to the tune of CZK 6 million. The Czech daily Právo reports on the case at http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/241837-byvaly-vudce-neonacistu-na-karvinsku-pred-soudem-za-milionovy-podvod.html?ref=boxD .
David Dembinski is one of the main founders of the National Resistance (Národní odpor - NO) organization in Silesia, which organizes ultra-right demonstrations against the Roma in Karviná district in particular. For example, Dembinski organized a right-wing extremist march the town of Orlová that intentionally targeted a housing estate occupied by Romani people. He was also involved in Miroslav Sládek's Republican Party, even running for municipal elections on the party ticket. He later became an entrepreneur, but his business dealings were always on the edge of legality.
Dembinski is currently serving time for extensive credit fraud. An armed escort accompanied him from prison in Plzeň to the Regional Court in Ostrava today. The state prosecutor has charged Dembinski with defrauding a private firm of auto parts and fuel worth more than CZK 6 million in 2008.
"Between 15 February 2008 and 12 March 2009, the defendant received CZK 6 172 948 worth of auto parts and fuel from a vendor. It is unknown what he did with the goods he took, and he never paid the invoices for the items delivered even after multiple urgings," Lucie Böhmová, spokesperson for the court, said of the case.
In 2009, Dembinski faced trial in Ostrava District Court for an incident in Stodolní street where he shot a business owner in front of a bar with an illegally obtained weapon, supposedly as part of a settling of scores. The prosecution alleged Dembinski had also used violence to force a restaurant owner to sign his business over to him.
The prosecution charged that would-be "entrepreneur" Dembinski fired a single round at another business owner in front of the "Divoké kočky" bar, allegedly because the man owed him money. The shot clipped the 33-year-old man from Olomouc in the left shoulder. The injury was not serious and his medical treatment lasted two weeks.
Dembinski refused to testify during the trial but had previously denied firing the round in Stodolní street. He claims he was in Slovakia at the time, which he has been unable to prove. However, he explained that somehow it was his work vehicle that was at the scene of the crime. The shooter exited the vehicle to fire the round and then drove off. "I don't have anything to do with it. I have never had or owned a weapon," he said.
Prior to the start of the trial, the judge indicated she was concerned that the witnesses summoned might lack discipline. "Some of them never retrieved their writs of summons. Others are afraid to testify," she said. The fear Dembinski spread also complicated the investigation. "We determined that many of those in his circle live in fear of him," a police officer involved in the case said. Detectives used a riot police unit when arresting him.
Such concern about Dembinski may be based not only on his debt collection methods, but also on his more recent past. When detectives began unraveling the shooting case, they determined Dembinski was operating a restaurant in Ostrava. It then came to light that he had allegedly acquired it through violence, forcing the original owner at gunpoint to transfer the business to him, which he then began to run. The victimized restaurant owner was not in court today and the investigation of that case is not yet completed.
Romea
David Dembinski is one of the main founders of the National Resistance (Národní odpor - NO) organization in Silesia, which organizes ultra-right demonstrations against the Roma in Karviná district in particular. For example, Dembinski organized a right-wing extremist march the town of Orlová that intentionally targeted a housing estate occupied by Romani people. He was also involved in Miroslav Sládek's Republican Party, even running for municipal elections on the party ticket. He later became an entrepreneur, but his business dealings were always on the edge of legality.
Dembinski is currently serving time for extensive credit fraud. An armed escort accompanied him from prison in Plzeň to the Regional Court in Ostrava today. The state prosecutor has charged Dembinski with defrauding a private firm of auto parts and fuel worth more than CZK 6 million in 2008.
"Between 15 February 2008 and 12 March 2009, the defendant received CZK 6 172 948 worth of auto parts and fuel from a vendor. It is unknown what he did with the goods he took, and he never paid the invoices for the items delivered even after multiple urgings," Lucie Böhmová, spokesperson for the court, said of the case.
In 2009, Dembinski faced trial in Ostrava District Court for an incident in Stodolní street where he shot a business owner in front of a bar with an illegally obtained weapon, supposedly as part of a settling of scores. The prosecution alleged Dembinski had also used violence to force a restaurant owner to sign his business over to him.
The prosecution charged that would-be "entrepreneur" Dembinski fired a single round at another business owner in front of the "Divoké kočky" bar, allegedly because the man owed him money. The shot clipped the 33-year-old man from Olomouc in the left shoulder. The injury was not serious and his medical treatment lasted two weeks.
Dembinski refused to testify during the trial but had previously denied firing the round in Stodolní street. He claims he was in Slovakia at the time, which he has been unable to prove. However, he explained that somehow it was his work vehicle that was at the scene of the crime. The shooter exited the vehicle to fire the round and then drove off. "I don't have anything to do with it. I have never had or owned a weapon," he said.
Prior to the start of the trial, the judge indicated she was concerned that the witnesses summoned might lack discipline. "Some of them never retrieved their writs of summons. Others are afraid to testify," she said. The fear Dembinski spread also complicated the investigation. "We determined that many of those in his circle live in fear of him," a police officer involved in the case said. Detectives used a riot police unit when arresting him.
Such concern about Dembinski may be based not only on his debt collection methods, but also on his more recent past. When detectives began unraveling the shooting case, they determined Dembinski was operating a restaurant in Ostrava. It then came to light that he had allegedly acquired it through violence, forcing the original owner at gunpoint to transfer the business to him, which he then began to run. The victimized restaurant owner was not in court today and the investigation of that case is not yet completed.
Romea
Monday, 15 August 2011
Forty six arrests after EDL protest in Telford (UK)
Police arrested 46 people in the aftermath of a protest rally held by the English Defence League in Wellington.
Following a four-hour protest by the English Defence League in Wellington on Saturday, and a counter “unity” demonstration in the town, 10 people were charged with public order offences and three people were given cautions.
Other people arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries. Two people were due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today.
Police confirmed there were “pockets of disorder” as up to 350 EDL members and 250 opposition protesters gathered in Wellington.
Shropshirestar.com
Following a four-hour protest by the English Defence League in Wellington on Saturday, and a counter “unity” demonstration in the town, 10 people were charged with public order offences and three people were given cautions.
Other people arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries. Two people were due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today.
Police confirmed there were “pockets of disorder” as up to 350 EDL members and 250 opposition protesters gathered in Wellington.
Shropshirestar.com
City faces demands to block right-wing extremist march (UK)
The city council is facing demands to block a march in Edinburgh by right-wing extremists, following the riots in England.
The Scottish Defence League (SDL) has been in talks with police chiefs about making a return to the city, 18 months after a similar event down the Royal Mile saw five men arrested as tensions rose between opposition groups.
It has applied to the council to march on September 10 - the day before the tenth anniversary of the terror attack on New York's World Trade Centre.
The move has sparked anger among anti-fascist organisations, and following the recent trouble in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham it has been flagged up as a potential flashpoint for unrest.
Last week, the Government banned a march by the English Defence League in Telford.
This item continues at Edinburgh News
.
The Scottish Defence League (SDL) has been in talks with police chiefs about making a return to the city, 18 months after a similar event down the Royal Mile saw five men arrested as tensions rose between opposition groups.
It has applied to the council to march on September 10 - the day before the tenth anniversary of the terror attack on New York's World Trade Centre.
The move has sparked anger among anti-fascist organisations, and following the recent trouble in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham it has been flagged up as a potential flashpoint for unrest.
Last week, the Government banned a march by the English Defence League in Telford.
This item continues at Edinburgh News
.
Fascist fans fuel fears for Ukraine’s Euro 2012 hosting
Neo-Nazism, which is deeply-rooted in Ukrainian football fan culture thanks to high-level support from the Orange Revolution leaders from 2004, has become yet another real headache for the country’s current government ahead of Euro 2012.
The “beautiful game” turned ugly in the second half of Dynamo Kiev’s game against Karpaty Lvov in the Ukrainian Premier League, as several dozen fans brutally attacked a steward. He was trying to take down banners supporting WWII insurgent army leaders Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich.
The victim of football fans’ attack, Andrey Solomatov, says he was simply trying to enforce the law.
“I saw the banners and asked the fans to remove them; this violated the law that no political agitation can be used at a football game. They refused and I tried to take them down myself. The next thing I remember is someone hitting me on the head and dozens of feet kicking me on the ground,” he said.
Bandera’s and Shukhevich’s status has been one of the main talking points in Ukraine over the past five years. Some in Ukraine see them as freedom-fighters and heroes, others – the majority of the population – call them Nazi collaborators.
In the 1940s, they fought alongside the German invaders, killing civilians – Russians, Poles and Jews – without mercy. More than 60 years later, Andrey the steward was nearly killed as well, but he is not sorry about his actions.
“Bandera and Shukhevich were murderers and criminals. A football match is no place for Nazism. These banners are being hung by the same people who attacked Red Army veterans in Lvov on May 9 this year,” Solomatov said.
Ukrainian football is no stranger to off-pitch violence and Nazi slogans. The same football fans that clash with the police are often seen in nationalist marches, at times carrying symbols forbidden by football organizations in Europe. Some experts blame the trend on the ideology of the previous administration.
”Ultra-nationalism has radicalized in Ukraine. That’s because for five years it had been strongly supported by the ruling elite. Now ultra-right and neo-Nazi movements are infiltrating football supporters. And nobody does anything about it – neither the authorities, nor the football clubs,” Vladimir Kornilov, political analyst for the CIS Countries Institute, said.
The Dynamo Kiev club says it carries no direct responsibility for the incident with Andrey Solomatov.
“It’s not forbidden by law to chant slogans like ‘Glory to Ukraine. Glory to heroes. Death to enemies.’ These slogans unite fans in Ukraine. But we will do everything to avoid incidents like this one. Those people are provocateurs and we will oust them from football grounds,” Nikolay Nesenyuk from Dynamo Kiev’s PR department, explained.
But such an excuse will not stand-up next year, when Ukraine and Poland co-host the European Football Championship. With the eyes of Europe focused on Kiev, banners commemorating the likes of Bandera and Shukhevich, if still a feature in 2012, could seriously harm the country’s reputation.
RT.Com
The “beautiful game” turned ugly in the second half of Dynamo Kiev’s game against Karpaty Lvov in the Ukrainian Premier League, as several dozen fans brutally attacked a steward. He was trying to take down banners supporting WWII insurgent army leaders Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich.
The victim of football fans’ attack, Andrey Solomatov, says he was simply trying to enforce the law.
“I saw the banners and asked the fans to remove them; this violated the law that no political agitation can be used at a football game. They refused and I tried to take them down myself. The next thing I remember is someone hitting me on the head and dozens of feet kicking me on the ground,” he said.
Bandera’s and Shukhevich’s status has been one of the main talking points in Ukraine over the past five years. Some in Ukraine see them as freedom-fighters and heroes, others – the majority of the population – call them Nazi collaborators.
In the 1940s, they fought alongside the German invaders, killing civilians – Russians, Poles and Jews – without mercy. More than 60 years later, Andrey the steward was nearly killed as well, but he is not sorry about his actions.
“Bandera and Shukhevich were murderers and criminals. A football match is no place for Nazism. These banners are being hung by the same people who attacked Red Army veterans in Lvov on May 9 this year,” Solomatov said.
Ukrainian football is no stranger to off-pitch violence and Nazi slogans. The same football fans that clash with the police are often seen in nationalist marches, at times carrying symbols forbidden by football organizations in Europe. Some experts blame the trend on the ideology of the previous administration.
”Ultra-nationalism has radicalized in Ukraine. That’s because for five years it had been strongly supported by the ruling elite. Now ultra-right and neo-Nazi movements are infiltrating football supporters. And nobody does anything about it – neither the authorities, nor the football clubs,” Vladimir Kornilov, political analyst for the CIS Countries Institute, said.
The Dynamo Kiev club says it carries no direct responsibility for the incident with Andrey Solomatov.
“It’s not forbidden by law to chant slogans like ‘Glory to Ukraine. Glory to heroes. Death to enemies.’ These slogans unite fans in Ukraine. But we will do everything to avoid incidents like this one. Those people are provocateurs and we will oust them from football grounds,” Nikolay Nesenyuk from Dynamo Kiev’s PR department, explained.
But such an excuse will not stand-up next year, when Ukraine and Poland co-host the European Football Championship. With the eyes of Europe focused on Kiev, banners commemorating the likes of Bandera and Shukhevich, if still a feature in 2012, could seriously harm the country’s reputation.
RT.Com
Saturday, 13 August 2011
North East BNP chief accused of chasing children with knife (UK)
The 42-year-old allegedly chased the children, who were on BMX bikes, over a village green in Tudhoe, Spennymoor, County Durham, in his Land Rover car after asking them to leave a celebration of St George’s Day.
Now the BNP’s national organiser has appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court where he entered no plea to one charge of affray, one charge of driving a motor vehicle dangerously and three of criminal damage charges.
It is claimed the disorder occurred during the village celebrations on April 23 this year.
Alison Nunn, prosecuting, told the court that in police interview, the children, aged 11 and 12, described being “terrified” during the alleged incident.
She said: “These three children gave evidence that whilst they were at a fun day they were told to leave and to get off the bouncy castle. They say that Adam Walker chased them in his vehicle. He pursued them across the green in his Land Rover whilst they were on their bikes.”
She also described Walker doing a “handbrake turn” in the direction of the children. Ms Nunn added: “It is then said he had a knife with him and he has brandished the knife.
“One of the children is clear in his police interview that Adam Walker put that knife to his face and made a threat.”
It is just over a year since Walker was cleared of racial intolerance by a teaching watchdog after describing immigrants as “savage animals”.
Walker, who also claimed that Britain was becoming a “dumping ground for the filth of the Third World”, said after the General Teaching Council (GTC) hearing that prospective employers would “be knocking on my door to employ me”.
The former teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College, in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, was brought before a GTC disciplinary panel after posting items on an internet discussion on the popularity of the BNP in February and March 2007.
The panel heard that Walker used a school laptop to make the postings and an inquiry launched at Houghton Kepier established that Mr Walker spent up to eight hours using the laptop for purposes not connected to his school duties.
He was cleared of racial intolerance but found guilty of using a school computer for personal use during lesson time.
The panel imposed a Conditional Registration Order which allows Walker to maintain his status as a registered teacher subject to him meeting certain conditions.
Walker, of Winchester Court, Spenny- moor, will appear back at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on October 7.
Journal Live
BNP man on suicide watch (UK)
A former British National Party organiser who once subjected a woman to a sickening racist attack is on suicide watch in jail.
Peter King appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court in custody after being brought from the hospital wing of Holme House Prison, where he is serving an 18-week prison sentence.
He was due to stand trial for punching a man on February 24, but pleaded guilty before the hearing started.
The 39-year-old was given a 22-month conditional discharge after the court heard he has lost four stone in weight in just two months behind bars and has become a “broken man”.
John Relton, mitigating, told magistrates: “The man you see before you today is very different to 12 months ago.
“He has spent the last couple of months on the hospital wing in prison as he has been unable to keep himself safe.
“There are issues with his state of mind and self-harm.”
He said that King, of Bluebell Way, Hartlepool, is worried about his family and losing his house as he needs to work to pay his mortgage.
Mr Relton added: “He is in many ways a broken man.
“He’s lost 4st in weight and is being watched all the time on the hospital wing because of the concerns people have for him.”
The Hartlepool Mail reported how King had originally narrowly escaped jail for saying to a stunned Sajida Islam “go back to your own country” when he saw her in the aisles of Hartlepool’s Tesco Extra store, in Burn Road.
“He then launched into a tirade of racist abuse on October 14 last year.
He then threatened his neighbour, 20-year-old student Nicholas Thompson, with an ornamental mace on Christmas Eve.
King admitted racially-aggravated harassment and possessing an offensive weapon at Teesside Crown Court and Judge Peter Bowers sentenced him to 10 months prison suspended for 18 months with supervision.
But despite being told to keep out of trouble, King breached the sentence when he was arrested in London on March 17 and was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was given 18 weeks in prison at Southwark Crown Court on June 15 for the offence.
Helen Kesterton, prosecuting at yesterday’s hearing, said: “At 5pm, the victim was walking alone along Oxford Road.
“He became aware of a man and a boy on pedal cycles.
“As he passed them he was punched in the mouth.
“He tasted blood and felt pain instantly and had a cut on the inside of his lip.
“The defendant went past him laughing loudly.”
Mr Relton said King and the man have a long-standing feud with one another, and the victim had been cautioned for an attack on King before the incident.
He added: “He has also threatened my client’s partner.
“What has happened here is that he has been with his son, and this gentleman is intimidating so he acted first.”
Peterlee Mail
Peter King appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court in custody after being brought from the hospital wing of Holme House Prison, where he is serving an 18-week prison sentence.
He was due to stand trial for punching a man on February 24, but pleaded guilty before the hearing started.
The 39-year-old was given a 22-month conditional discharge after the court heard he has lost four stone in weight in just two months behind bars and has become a “broken man”.
John Relton, mitigating, told magistrates: “The man you see before you today is very different to 12 months ago.
“He has spent the last couple of months on the hospital wing in prison as he has been unable to keep himself safe.
“There are issues with his state of mind and self-harm.”
He said that King, of Bluebell Way, Hartlepool, is worried about his family and losing his house as he needs to work to pay his mortgage.
Mr Relton added: “He is in many ways a broken man.
“He’s lost 4st in weight and is being watched all the time on the hospital wing because of the concerns people have for him.”
The Hartlepool Mail reported how King had originally narrowly escaped jail for saying to a stunned Sajida Islam “go back to your own country” when he saw her in the aisles of Hartlepool’s Tesco Extra store, in Burn Road.
“He then launched into a tirade of racist abuse on October 14 last year.
He then threatened his neighbour, 20-year-old student Nicholas Thompson, with an ornamental mace on Christmas Eve.
King admitted racially-aggravated harassment and possessing an offensive weapon at Teesside Crown Court and Judge Peter Bowers sentenced him to 10 months prison suspended for 18 months with supervision.
But despite being told to keep out of trouble, King breached the sentence when he was arrested in London on March 17 and was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was given 18 weeks in prison at Southwark Crown Court on June 15 for the offence.
Helen Kesterton, prosecuting at yesterday’s hearing, said: “At 5pm, the victim was walking alone along Oxford Road.
“He became aware of a man and a boy on pedal cycles.
“As he passed them he was punched in the mouth.
“He tasted blood and felt pain instantly and had a cut on the inside of his lip.
“The defendant went past him laughing loudly.”
Mr Relton said King and the man have a long-standing feud with one another, and the victim had been cautioned for an attack on King before the incident.
He added: “He has also threatened my client’s partner.
“What has happened here is that he has been with his son, and this gentleman is intimidating so he acted first.”
Peterlee Mail
EDL 'to gather' despite march ban (UK)
Members of the English Defence League (EDL) are expected to gather in a town, despite a planned march being banned amid fears of violence.
The march in Telford, Shropshire, was vetoed by Home Secretary Theresa May to protect "communities and property", but members of the group can still gather to protest.
Telford & Wrekin Council requested a ban under Section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986, but the local authority said it still expects the EDL to gather in Church Street, Wellington.
Mrs May said: "It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and property are protected. What this ban does not do however is stop an EDL presence or a static demonstration in Telford this weekend.
"West Mercia Police have a significant number of officers being deployed to police any EDL presence. I encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined."
The council said there will still be a "significant multi-agency operation" in Wellington.
Councillor Shaun Davies said: "We welcome the fact that the Home Secretary has approved our request for the marches to be banned. However, there will still be a significant multi-agency operation in Wellington in anticipation of a static protest."
Chief Inspector Keith Gee, from West Mercia Police, said they would do everything possible to keep any assembly peaceful. He said: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly.
"To that end, we are still planning for a major police operation, involving our multi-agency partners, and we will have significant numbers of police officers out on the streets to reassure our communities.
"I would like to reassure the communities in and around Wellington that we have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents on the day."
Belfast Telegraph
The march in Telford, Shropshire, was vetoed by Home Secretary Theresa May to protect "communities and property", but members of the group can still gather to protest.
Telford & Wrekin Council requested a ban under Section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986, but the local authority said it still expects the EDL to gather in Church Street, Wellington.
Mrs May said: "It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and property are protected. What this ban does not do however is stop an EDL presence or a static demonstration in Telford this weekend.
"West Mercia Police have a significant number of officers being deployed to police any EDL presence. I encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined."
The council said there will still be a "significant multi-agency operation" in Wellington.
Councillor Shaun Davies said: "We welcome the fact that the Home Secretary has approved our request for the marches to be banned. However, there will still be a significant multi-agency operation in Wellington in anticipation of a static protest."
Chief Inspector Keith Gee, from West Mercia Police, said they would do everything possible to keep any assembly peaceful. He said: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly.
"To that end, we are still planning for a major police operation, involving our multi-agency partners, and we will have significant numbers of police officers out on the streets to reassure our communities.
"I would like to reassure the communities in and around Wellington that we have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents on the day."
Belfast Telegraph
Friday, 12 August 2011
Home Secretary bans Telford EDL march (UK)
The home secretary has banned an English Defence League (EDL) march through a Shropshire town amid fears of disorder.
Theresa May she had stopped the march in Telford to protect "communities and properties".
She said the ban would not stop an EDL presence in Telford on Saturday.
Telford and Wrekin Council had made the request under the Public Order Act on the advice of West Mercia Police.
Mrs May said: "I have given my consent to a ban on marches in Telford this weekend. It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and properties are protected."
'Remain peaceful'
However, she said there would be a "significant number" of police deployed on Saturday.
"I encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined," she said.
Church Street in Wellington is to be the location of any protest by the EDL.
The council welcomed the ban but said security measures would remain in place.
Councillor Shaun Davies said: "People can be reassured that both organisations (police and the council) have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents on the day."
Chief Inspector Keith Gee of West Mercia Police said the ban did "not prevent any static assemblies taking place, which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful and we have no legal powers to prevent them".
He added: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly on Saturday remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly."
The EDL said it was going to Telford because "local people's voices deserve to be heard".
"We are not coming to Telford to inconvenience anyone, and we certainly do not intend to cause any trouble," a spokesman said.
BBC News
Theresa May she had stopped the march in Telford to protect "communities and properties".
She said the ban would not stop an EDL presence in Telford on Saturday.
Telford and Wrekin Council had made the request under the Public Order Act on the advice of West Mercia Police.
Mrs May said: "I have given my consent to a ban on marches in Telford this weekend. It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and properties are protected."
'Remain peaceful'
However, she said there would be a "significant number" of police deployed on Saturday.
"I encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined," she said.
Church Street in Wellington is to be the location of any protest by the EDL.
The council welcomed the ban but said security measures would remain in place.
Councillor Shaun Davies said: "People can be reassured that both organisations (police and the council) have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents on the day."
Chief Inspector Keith Gee of West Mercia Police said the ban did "not prevent any static assemblies taking place, which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful and we have no legal powers to prevent them".
He added: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly on Saturday remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly."
The EDL said it was going to Telford because "local people's voices deserve to be heard".
"We are not coming to Telford to inconvenience anyone, and we certainly do not intend to cause any trouble," a spokesman said.
BBC News
UK Muslims Use Prayer, Not Revenge in Response to Hate Crime
The three victims had been standing with other local residents in an effort to protect their property from looters when a car plowed through the line of defense.
An estimated 300 Muslim and Sikh men gathered near the site of the killings, according to Guardian News. Some of the men were seeking revenge. As the crowd considered their options, Tariq Jahan, whose son was among those dead, appealed to the crowd not to avenge the crime.
Mustafa Khalili, a Guardian editor, said the deaths had “heightened” tensions, and people began calling for revenge. The father appealed for calm several times since.
The crowd of Muslims and Sikhs decided not to hold a march, which could have led to further violence. Instead, the father and other members of the community led an ethnically-mixed candlelight vigil for the three young men killed. Khalili says the vigil was calm and that those who assembled reflected in their grief.
Basharat Nazir, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom, said the father’s response was in “the true spirit of Islam.” He said the father’s calm demeanor let “common sense” prevail. He added Islam teaches in “the face of atrocity” and "excesses done against us, we should respond back in a thoughtful manner and should rely on the authorities to take the necessary measures.”
Police said they have a suspect in custody and have begun an investigation of possible murder charges.
Nasser Khan, vice president of the Ahmadiyya Association in the United Kingdom, stressed that the deaths were a tragic crime and that they should not be considered “sectarian or religious” incidents. “They were purely defending their communities and their country, which is what Islam teaches you.”
Khan said a handful of Muslim extremists might sometimes catch the media spotlight, but incidents like this prayer vigil should be publicly recognized.
Nazir said, “Responsible people within all the communities should stand up and hold hands and stand up against the extremists.” He said that those who bring violence to society should know that no community will tolerate people that create disorder in this world.
“It goes against all religious teachings. And the Muslim community should be no different to any other,” said Nazir.
Voice of America
'Drop racism from Swiss elections' demand
Swiss human rights groups have called on political parties to avoid racist campaigning during the upcoming October elections.
The head of the Independent Federal Commission Against Racism, Georg Kreis, told AFP that Swiss elections were usually periods of racist and xenophobic agitation.
"There is a certain seductiveness during elections in using xenophobia or defamation as a political tool", he said.
The commission is spearheading the 'Fairplay in Elections' campaign, which is backed by nearly 30 organizations, including human rights group Amnesty International.
During election campaigns, controversial themes should be brought to the table, he conceded, but debates should stick to the facts.
Kreis's call has received press backing: “Those Swiss who are against smear campaigns, exclusion and the ’concept of the enemy’, have gained a voice. With an online signature, they can speak out“, the NZZ newspaper writes.
Switzerland's biggest political party, the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) has consistently sparked controversy with its campaigns.
The SVP, which already holds around a quarter of the seats in the federal assembly, is expected to make further gains during the October elections.
“Parties and politicians are not the focus of the campaign, rather the general public“, Kreis, explained to the media in Bern. “The iniative should show that in Switzerland there is a solid base of decent people. And there are more of them than one would assume from media reports.“
"The 'Fairplay in election campaigns' (Fairplay im Wahlkampf) project should alleviate their feeling of helplessness“, he said.
The campaign calls for parties to avoid racist and defamatory language against immigrants, asylum seekers, the socially disadvantaged and those who think differently.
“An open dialogue is a pre-condition for a democracy. That does not mean that everything should be allowed“, said Emine Sariaslan, president of the Forum for the Integration of Immigrants (FIMM), one of the organizations involved in the campaign. “People should not be made responsible for problems that have totally different cause because of their origin, religion or lifestyle.“
“The campaign is about the protection of different strands of society living alongside one another. Damage occurs when individual groups are shut out and defamed. “Those who really stand up for for Switzerland should sign the iniative,“ said Kreis.
The Local Switzerland
The head of the Independent Federal Commission Against Racism, Georg Kreis, told AFP that Swiss elections were usually periods of racist and xenophobic agitation.
"There is a certain seductiveness during elections in using xenophobia or defamation as a political tool", he said.
The commission is spearheading the 'Fairplay in Elections' campaign, which is backed by nearly 30 organizations, including human rights group Amnesty International.
During election campaigns, controversial themes should be brought to the table, he conceded, but debates should stick to the facts.
Kreis's call has received press backing: “Those Swiss who are against smear campaigns, exclusion and the ’concept of the enemy’, have gained a voice. With an online signature, they can speak out“, the NZZ newspaper writes.
Switzerland's biggest political party, the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) has consistently sparked controversy with its campaigns.
The SVP, which already holds around a quarter of the seats in the federal assembly, is expected to make further gains during the October elections.
“Parties and politicians are not the focus of the campaign, rather the general public“, Kreis, explained to the media in Bern. “The iniative should show that in Switzerland there is a solid base of decent people. And there are more of them than one would assume from media reports.“
"The 'Fairplay in election campaigns' (Fairplay im Wahlkampf) project should alleviate their feeling of helplessness“, he said.
The campaign calls for parties to avoid racist and defamatory language against immigrants, asylum seekers, the socially disadvantaged and those who think differently.
“An open dialogue is a pre-condition for a democracy. That does not mean that everything should be allowed“, said Emine Sariaslan, president of the Forum for the Integration of Immigrants (FIMM), one of the organizations involved in the campaign. “People should not be made responsible for problems that have totally different cause because of their origin, religion or lifestyle.“
“The campaign is about the protection of different strands of society living alongside one another. Damage occurs when individual groups are shut out and defamed. “Those who really stand up for for Switzerland should sign the iniative,“ said Kreis.
The Local Switzerland
DANISH RIGHT-WING INFILTRATED
A secret network called ORG , which has sought to ‘clean’ Denmark of immigrants and have a showdown with ‘traitors’ who have made immigration possible, has been active in infiltrating political and right-wing organisations, according to documents Politiken has obtained. ORG, which has some 100 members, was started by a small group of men, several of whom have held leading positions in the Danish People’s Party, or been candidates for the party, while at the same time taking part in Ku Klux Klan-type events and exerting influence on extreme right-wing organisations. Several ORG members have said they are willing to use violence against immigrants, and have praised the Hells Angels support group AK81 for ‘beating provocative wogs’. Jesper Nielsen, who is the head of ORG, has refused to be interviewed about the organisation. “ORG has not wanted the publicity concerned as we assume that the non-public character of the association will be misconstrued and misused to ascribe surreptitious motives to its closed nature,” ORG’s Board says in a message.
Confronted with Politiken’s information, Danish People’s Party’s Party Secretary Poul Lindholm Jensen says that ORG’s Chairman Jesper Nielsen has been part of the party leadership in Aarhus and that another ORG member has been a parliamentary candidate for the Danish People’s Party. “I have not heard of ORG before. But I can see that neither of the two are with us anymore. They both solved the problem by withdrawing from the party,” Lindholm Jensen says. While ORG has managed to keep the organisation secret for more than 20 years, Politiken has obtained internal ORG documents. The documents include ORG’s organisational setup and tasks, several years of communication between the network’s leading members on a closed Internet forum as well as examples of the network’s extensive ‘traitor archive’, which is called ‘The Great Memory’. The documents show that ORG monitored political opponents, certainly until 2009, and was ready to share its information with the Den Danske Forening association, which is vehemently opposed to immigration.
The secret network’s Copenhagen leader, known as PUJ, received a suspended sentence in 2009 for having abused his position as a policeman to gather information on political adversaries. A search of his home turned up correspondence with ORG’s Leader Jesper Nielsen, but the lead was not developed during his court case. “Our view was that he had contacts with other people who shared his views,” says Copenhagen Public Prosecutor Liselotte Nilas. This particular aspect of the case was handed over to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service PET, whose chief Jakob Scharf says in a written response: “PET has been involved in investigating this case, which led to a police employee being sentenced for illegally collecting personal information from police registers. The fact that the information was seemingly collected for an extreme right network was, and remains, the object of PET’s attention,” Scharf says.
Politiken.dk
Confronted with Politiken’s information, Danish People’s Party’s Party Secretary Poul Lindholm Jensen says that ORG’s Chairman Jesper Nielsen has been part of the party leadership in Aarhus and that another ORG member has been a parliamentary candidate for the Danish People’s Party. “I have not heard of ORG before. But I can see that neither of the two are with us anymore. They both solved the problem by withdrawing from the party,” Lindholm Jensen says. While ORG has managed to keep the organisation secret for more than 20 years, Politiken has obtained internal ORG documents. The documents include ORG’s organisational setup and tasks, several years of communication between the network’s leading members on a closed Internet forum as well as examples of the network’s extensive ‘traitor archive’, which is called ‘The Great Memory’. The documents show that ORG monitored political opponents, certainly until 2009, and was ready to share its information with the Den Danske Forening association, which is vehemently opposed to immigration.
The secret network’s Copenhagen leader, known as PUJ, received a suspended sentence in 2009 for having abused his position as a policeman to gather information on political adversaries. A search of his home turned up correspondence with ORG’s Leader Jesper Nielsen, but the lead was not developed during his court case. “Our view was that he had contacts with other people who shared his views,” says Copenhagen Public Prosecutor Liselotte Nilas. This particular aspect of the case was handed over to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service PET, whose chief Jakob Scharf says in a written response: “PET has been involved in investigating this case, which led to a police employee being sentenced for illegally collecting personal information from police registers. The fact that the information was seemingly collected for an extreme right network was, and remains, the object of PET’s attention,” Scharf says.
Politiken.dk
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Right-wing yobs linked to night of violence (UK)
Far-right groups have been linked to the rioting in Manchester and Salford. Police say thugs connected to extreme political groups may have helped orchestrate serious disorder and looting in both cities.
Chief Constable Peter Fahy said he believed that organised crime groups were behind the most violent trouble in Manchester and around Salford Shopping City, in Pendleton.
But officers and community leaders also believe right-wing activists were involved.
One Salford councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "It is common knowledge that elements of these organisations were on the streets, in the thick of it, when it was happening."
In Manchester, the yobs’ main aim seemed to be wanton looting.
But in Salford, officers came under particularly ferocious attack.
Six officers were injured, including a superintendent, who was struck by a brick.
Around 200 youths chased officers, looted shops and torched cars a supermarket and a council office.
Mr Fahy claimed the attacks on officers in Salford could be a backlash against recent operations to disrupt ‘untouchable’ criminals in the city.
Mr Fahy said: "Salford seemed to have a lot more organisation around it.
"It was of a different tone. We have given a hard time to persistent criminals and organised crime outfits – no doubt some of those saw this as an opportunity to get back to us.
"If they see an opportunity to bait local police, they will take it."
He described how in both cities there was clear evidence of criminal planning
"You could see some people on mobile phones outside shops calling their mates saying ‘come to this one, we’ve managed to break in’."
It was the worst disorder in Salford has seen since the summer of 1992 when scores of cars, a carpet warehouse, and the unemployment office in Ordsall were set on fire. Firefighters and a police dog handler were shot at.
That was triggered by a police crack down on criminals and the seizure by officers of a Sierra Cosworth car belonging to one criminal.
Manchester Evening News
Chief Constable Peter Fahy said he believed that organised crime groups were behind the most violent trouble in Manchester and around Salford Shopping City, in Pendleton.
But officers and community leaders also believe right-wing activists were involved.
One Salford councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "It is common knowledge that elements of these organisations were on the streets, in the thick of it, when it was happening."
In Manchester, the yobs’ main aim seemed to be wanton looting.
But in Salford, officers came under particularly ferocious attack.
Six officers were injured, including a superintendent, who was struck by a brick.
Around 200 youths chased officers, looted shops and torched cars a supermarket and a council office.
Mr Fahy claimed the attacks on officers in Salford could be a backlash against recent operations to disrupt ‘untouchable’ criminals in the city.
Mr Fahy said: "Salford seemed to have a lot more organisation around it.
"It was of a different tone. We have given a hard time to persistent criminals and organised crime outfits – no doubt some of those saw this as an opportunity to get back to us.
"If they see an opportunity to bait local police, they will take it."
He described how in both cities there was clear evidence of criminal planning
"You could see some people on mobile phones outside shops calling their mates saying ‘come to this one, we’ve managed to break in’."
It was the worst disorder in Salford has seen since the summer of 1992 when scores of cars, a carpet warehouse, and the unemployment office in Ordsall were set on fire. Firefighters and a police dog handler were shot at.
That was triggered by a police crack down on criminals and the seizure by officers of a Sierra Cosworth car belonging to one criminal.
Manchester Evening News
More people driven out by racists (Northern Ireland)
The number of households intimidated from their homes by racists in Northern Ireland has doubled in four years, it has been revealed.
The mass flight of Roma families from south Belfast in 2009 contributed to the dramatic increase in the number left homeless, said the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).
A total of 100 Romanians fled their homes in the city following the spate of racist attacks.
The number of cases increased from 41 in 2006/7 to 96 in 2009/10.
The families who left in June 2009 were members of the Roma ethnic group. They said they felt frightened and vulnerable after their homes were targeted.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive later paid for them to return to Romania using emergency funds. The group had been living in south Belfast - the part of Northern Ireland which had the highest number of reported racist incidents.
An OFMDFM statement published this week said there has been some increase in the number of households presenting as homeless both as a result of sectarian and racial intimidation, the increase being more dramatic for those attributing their homelessness status to racism and likely to be linked to the attacks on Roma families in June 2009.
It added: "Collectively, there has been an increase of 63 such cases since recording began. The 2009/10 figures of 96 for those citing racial intimidation as the reason for their state of homelessness represents a rise for two consecutive years."
According to OFMDFM, the number of racially motivated hate incidents is down by a fifth from 1,047 incidents in 2006/07 to 842 in 2010/11.
Crimes with a racist motivation fell by a quarter between 2009/10 and 2010/11 (712 versus 531). The past five years has recorded a downward trend in this crime type, the OFMDFM written answer to DUP MLA Jonathan Craig said. The 2010/11 figure is the lowest since 2004/05 when they were first presented.
Belfast Telegraph
The mass flight of Roma families from south Belfast in 2009 contributed to the dramatic increase in the number left homeless, said the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).
A total of 100 Romanians fled their homes in the city following the spate of racist attacks.
The number of cases increased from 41 in 2006/7 to 96 in 2009/10.
The families who left in June 2009 were members of the Roma ethnic group. They said they felt frightened and vulnerable after their homes were targeted.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive later paid for them to return to Romania using emergency funds. The group had been living in south Belfast - the part of Northern Ireland which had the highest number of reported racist incidents.
An OFMDFM statement published this week said there has been some increase in the number of households presenting as homeless both as a result of sectarian and racial intimidation, the increase being more dramatic for those attributing their homelessness status to racism and likely to be linked to the attacks on Roma families in June 2009.
It added: "Collectively, there has been an increase of 63 such cases since recording began. The 2009/10 figures of 96 for those citing racial intimidation as the reason for their state of homelessness represents a rise for two consecutive years."
According to OFMDFM, the number of racially motivated hate incidents is down by a fifth from 1,047 incidents in 2006/07 to 842 in 2010/11.
Crimes with a racist motivation fell by a quarter between 2009/10 and 2010/11 (712 versus 531). The past five years has recorded a downward trend in this crime type, the OFMDFM written answer to DUP MLA Jonathan Craig said. The 2010/11 figure is the lowest since 2004/05 when they were first presented.
Belfast Telegraph
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
2 white supremacists accused of robbery, making terrorist threats (USA)
Two white supremacist gang members have been arrested on suspicion of stealing a woman’s makeup bag, some marijuana plants and a cellphone from a Hesperia home where one of the suspects once lived, authorities said Tuesday.
Joshua Anderson, 26, and Shawn Cavanaugh, 31, both of Hesperia, fled to a nearby home and were arrested by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies late Monday on suspicion of residential robbery, making terrorist threats and participating in a gang.
The two suspects entered the home on Hemlock Avenue, confronting a man and his girlfriend inside, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Department. An altercation followed, and the man was able to call 911. The suspects then rummaged through the girlfriend’s car and also took a phone, her makeup bag and marijuana plants.
Deputies found Anderson and Cavanaugh hiding in a garage in the 1500 block of Aspen Street, along with “paraphernalia consistent with items belonging” to their white supremacist gang affiliation, the statement said.
LA Times
Joshua Anderson, 26, and Shawn Cavanaugh, 31, both of Hesperia, fled to a nearby home and were arrested by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies late Monday on suspicion of residential robbery, making terrorist threats and participating in a gang.
The two suspects entered the home on Hemlock Avenue, confronting a man and his girlfriend inside, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Department. An altercation followed, and the man was able to call 911. The suspects then rummaged through the girlfriend’s car and also took a phone, her makeup bag and marijuana plants.
Deputies found Anderson and Cavanaugh hiding in a garage in the 1500 block of Aspen Street, along with “paraphernalia consistent with items belonging” to their white supremacist gang affiliation, the statement said.
LA Times
The wife of a neo-Nazi organizer pleads guilty to child abuse. (USA)
The wife of a neo-Nazi organizer allegedly shot and killed by his 10-year-old son pleaded guilty today to child abuse and was immediately sentenced to four months in jail and four years probation.
During a settlement hearing before Riverside County Superior Court Judge J. Thompson Hanks, Krista Faye McCary, 26, withdrew her previous plea of not guilty to the felony charge as well as another allegation of failing to secure a firearm in a household with children present. McCary's attorney, Leonard Valadez, negotiated a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office just before the hearing that called for the dismissal of four charges of child endangerment and three charges of failure to store a firearm in exchange for McCary's guilty plea to the other two counts.
Hanks sentenced the Riverside woman to work release in lieu of jail time and ordered her to attend a 52-week child rearing program approved by the Department of Public Social Services.
Had McCary been convicted of all nine original felony charges, she could have faced around 30 years in prison.
Riverside police investigators allege McCary stood by and watched as her husband, 32-year-old Jeff Russell Hall, abused their five children, mainly the eldest boy, Joseph, who is McCary's stepson.
There were numerous guns, knives and swords in the house, easily accessible to any of the children, according to Riverside police Detective Greg Rowe.
Rowe wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit that McCary acknowledged seeing Hall beat and verbally abuse Joseph.
"Krista said that Jeffrey did these things to punish (him)," Rowe wrote. "Krista said that (the boy) would get punished for being too loud or getting in Jeffrey's way. Krista said Jeffrey would get out of control when he punished (his son), including punching and kicking him several times in the back."
Hall, a plumber, was the Southwest regional director of the Detroit- based National Socialist Movement, which advocates racial segregation. He was a visible presence at neo-Nazi rallies throughout the Inland Empire.
On May 1, Hall was sleeping on a front room sofa in his two-story Louder Court home when his son allegedly shot him in the head, using a Rossi .357 revolver that he'd pulled out of the master bedroom closet, according to investigators.
"The oldest child ... admitted during the interview that he was tired of his dad hitting him and his (step)mom," Rowe wrote. "(He) said he thought his dad was cheating on his (step)mom and thought he might have to choose which person he would live with."
Neither McCary or Joseph's siblings -- a 2-month-old, 3-year-old, 7-year- old and 9-year-old -- were injured.
Hall was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The detective described the house as "filthy," with dirty clothes scattered everywhere, urine-stained and soiled bed sheets and floors that "didn't appear to have been vacuumed in a long time."
All of the youngsters are now in the care of child welfare workers.
Joseph is being held at Riverside Juvenile Hall. He's undergoing psychiatric evaluations, and another hearing in the case is set for next month.
If convicted of murder and a sentence-enhancing gun use allegation, the 10-year-old could be imprisoned until he is 25.
My Valley News
During a settlement hearing before Riverside County Superior Court Judge J. Thompson Hanks, Krista Faye McCary, 26, withdrew her previous plea of not guilty to the felony charge as well as another allegation of failing to secure a firearm in a household with children present. McCary's attorney, Leonard Valadez, negotiated a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office just before the hearing that called for the dismissal of four charges of child endangerment and three charges of failure to store a firearm in exchange for McCary's guilty plea to the other two counts.
Hanks sentenced the Riverside woman to work release in lieu of jail time and ordered her to attend a 52-week child rearing program approved by the Department of Public Social Services.
Had McCary been convicted of all nine original felony charges, she could have faced around 30 years in prison.
Riverside police investigators allege McCary stood by and watched as her husband, 32-year-old Jeff Russell Hall, abused their five children, mainly the eldest boy, Joseph, who is McCary's stepson.
There were numerous guns, knives and swords in the house, easily accessible to any of the children, according to Riverside police Detective Greg Rowe.
Rowe wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit that McCary acknowledged seeing Hall beat and verbally abuse Joseph.
"Krista said that Jeffrey did these things to punish (him)," Rowe wrote. "Krista said that (the boy) would get punished for being too loud or getting in Jeffrey's way. Krista said Jeffrey would get out of control when he punished (his son), including punching and kicking him several times in the back."
Hall, a plumber, was the Southwest regional director of the Detroit- based National Socialist Movement, which advocates racial segregation. He was a visible presence at neo-Nazi rallies throughout the Inland Empire.
On May 1, Hall was sleeping on a front room sofa in his two-story Louder Court home when his son allegedly shot him in the head, using a Rossi .357 revolver that he'd pulled out of the master bedroom closet, according to investigators.
"The oldest child ... admitted during the interview that he was tired of his dad hitting him and his (step)mom," Rowe wrote. "(He) said he thought his dad was cheating on his (step)mom and thought he might have to choose which person he would live with."
Neither McCary or Joseph's siblings -- a 2-month-old, 3-year-old, 7-year- old and 9-year-old -- were injured.
Hall was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The detective described the house as "filthy," with dirty clothes scattered everywhere, urine-stained and soiled bed sheets and floors that "didn't appear to have been vacuumed in a long time."
All of the youngsters are now in the care of child welfare workers.
Joseph is being held at Riverside Juvenile Hall. He's undergoing psychiatric evaluations, and another hearing in the case is set for next month.
If convicted of murder and a sentence-enhancing gun use allegation, the 10-year-old could be imprisoned until he is 25.
My Valley News
Trojan T-shirt targets German right-wing rock fans
Music fans who took souvenir T-shirts from a rock festival in Gera, eastern Germany, have discovered they hold a secret message.
The so-called Trojan T-shirts bore a design of a skull and right-wing flags and the words "hardcore rebels".
But, once washed, the design dissolves to reveal a message telling people to break with extremism.
Some 250 T-shirts were donated to organisers, who handed them out at the nationalist rock festival in Gera.
The stunt was organised by a left-wing group called Exit, which seeks to reduce the influence of the right-wing in Germany.
"What your T-shirt can do, so can you - we'll help you break with right-wing extremism," the message reads, and provides a contact number for the group.
On its website, Exit said it had made contact with the organisers of the Rock For Germany festival, in its ninth year, using a false name and had offered the T-shirts for free.
The group's founder, Bernd Wagner, said the group hoped its actions would raise awareness among young festival-goers.
"With these T-shirts, we aimed to make ourselves known among right-wingers, especially among young ones who are not yet fully committed to the extreme right," he said, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency.
The Rock For Germany festival had as its slogan "Never again communism - Freedom for Germany".
There was no official reaction from the festival's organisers but a text message was circulating among young people who attended warning them that the T-shirts were fake.
BBC News
The so-called Trojan T-shirts bore a design of a skull and right-wing flags and the words "hardcore rebels".
But, once washed, the design dissolves to reveal a message telling people to break with extremism.
Some 250 T-shirts were donated to organisers, who handed them out at the nationalist rock festival in Gera.
The stunt was organised by a left-wing group called Exit, which seeks to reduce the influence of the right-wing in Germany.
"What your T-shirt can do, so can you - we'll help you break with right-wing extremism," the message reads, and provides a contact number for the group.
On its website, Exit said it had made contact with the organisers of the Rock For Germany festival, in its ninth year, using a false name and had offered the T-shirts for free.
The group's founder, Bernd Wagner, said the group hoped its actions would raise awareness among young festival-goers.
"With these T-shirts, we aimed to make ourselves known among right-wingers, especially among young ones who are not yet fully committed to the extreme right," he said, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency.
The Rock For Germany festival had as its slogan "Never again communism - Freedom for Germany".
There was no official reaction from the festival's organisers but a text message was circulating among young people who attended warning them that the T-shirts were fake.
BBC News
Swedish queen's report denies father had Nazi links
Sweden's royal family has rejected allegations of links between the German-born queen's late father and the Nazi regime in Germany.
Queen Silvia has published a report she commissioned in response to claims her father took over a factory from a Jewish businessman.
The report concluded that Walter Sommerlath had in fact helped the Jewish man escape from Germany.
It found he had traded the factory for a coffee plantation in Brazil.
Last year, Swedish commercial broadcaster TV4 reported that Mr Sommerlath had taken advantage of the Nazi's "Aryanisation" programme to take over a factory belonging to Jewish businessman Efim Wechsler in 1939.
However, the new 34-page report, compiled by Swedish World War II expert Erik Norberg, indicated that Mr Sommerlath had allowed Mr Wechsler to escape from Germany by trading the plantation for the factory.
The report confirmed that Mr Sommerlath - who died in 1990 - went to Brazil in 1920, aged 20, where he met and married the queen's Brazilian mother Alice, whose family owned a large coffee plantation.
Queen Silvia has faced criticism in Swedish media for a number of years for not doing more to address the rumours of her father's role in Germany during World War II.
BBC News
Queen Silvia has published a report she commissioned in response to claims her father took over a factory from a Jewish businessman.
The report concluded that Walter Sommerlath had in fact helped the Jewish man escape from Germany.
It found he had traded the factory for a coffee plantation in Brazil.
Last year, Swedish commercial broadcaster TV4 reported that Mr Sommerlath had taken advantage of the Nazi's "Aryanisation" programme to take over a factory belonging to Jewish businessman Efim Wechsler in 1939.
However, the new 34-page report, compiled by Swedish World War II expert Erik Norberg, indicated that Mr Sommerlath had allowed Mr Wechsler to escape from Germany by trading the plantation for the factory.
The report confirmed that Mr Sommerlath - who died in 1990 - went to Brazil in 1920, aged 20, where he met and married the queen's Brazilian mother Alice, whose family owned a large coffee plantation.
Queen Silvia has faced criticism in Swedish media for a number of years for not doing more to address the rumours of her father's role in Germany during World War II.
BBC News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)