A reporting team of native Mississippians covered and blogged about the Killen trial in June 2005.
Donna Ladd is the editor of the Jackson Free Press and a native of Neshoba County.
Natalie Irby is a Jackson, Miss., native and intern for the JFP. She graduated from Ole Miss.
Photos of the trial and Neshoba County on this page are copyright Kate Medley, also a Jackson, Miss., native and a freelance photojournalist.
Photo intern Thabi Moyo graduated from Howard University in 2004. She is an aspiring filmmaker and lives in Madison. She grew up in Jackson.
Donna just called in to the office from the Neshoba courthouse to tell us that the jury has found Edgar Ray Killen guilty of three counts of manslaughter in the 1964 deaths of James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman. The jury, undecided at 6-6 yesterday evening, returned the verdict this morning.
The verdict comes 41 years to the day after the men were killed. Sentencing will be carried out on June 23 at 10 a.m.
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On the 41st anniversary of the deaths of Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney, one man has been convicted. One thing to think about is the fact that the jury would not convict Edgar Ray Killen of murder. Although his role in the murders was obviously premeditated, they chose the verdict of manslaughter, which meant that he might not have known they would be killed—even as he was known to be the organizer and orchestrator of the murders. Also, a gravesite for the three men was already chosen; thus, how could this murder have been one of passion? Rita Bender and Ben Chaney gave us a reminder that this is only the beginning.
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Today marks 41 years since the murder of the three civil rights workers in Neshoba County. As jury deliberation continues all we can do is wait. As you know, yesterday after only 2 or so hours of deliberation Judge Gordon asked the jury what their current numbers were. Supposedly, his actions could be grounds for a mistrial. I don't know exactly what the rules are, but I don't believe he has the explicit power to inquire, at least not so soon after deliberation has begun. Hopefully 6 people will change their minds.
The case was turned over to the jury this afternoon at about 3:15. We sat in the media center while the jury deliberated and at approximately 5:30 Judge Gordon summoned the jury into the courtroom. As of today the votes are split 6 to 6. The jurors will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. tommorrow to continue deliberation.
The morning began as Jim Hood stood to address the judge while in the process of putting on his suit coat. He was sternly reprimanded by the judge for his lack of etiquette.
Then we move to Mitch Moran, who I was told today by a fellow reporter, is one of those lawyers you call in the event of a DUI or a drug case. Supposedly this is his first time in the courtroom assuming the position of criminal defense lawyer. I don't think too many Philly lawyers were too interested in representing Mr. Killen, so Killen had to hire a "One call that's all" type of attorney from Carthage, MS.
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Today, Todd should be posting a number of Kate Medley's photos. In my opinion, Kate has gotten the best shots I've seen outside the courtroom (she can't shoot inside; only the AP pool photographer, who is also providing us photos), and Kate is selling them to outlets around the world this week. Right now, you can check out John Sugg's Creative Loafing blog to see a number we haven't posted, yet. Kate's work will also be featured in next week's print edition, so keep an eye out. We're thrilled to have Kate, a Murrah grad, shooting for the JFP. (Click Kate here to buy photos In addition, Thabi Moyo, another Murrah grad, joined us there Friday and is going today to do still and video photography. The four of us, including Natalie Irby, my co-blogger, are headed over today for two different memorial services—one at 1 p.m. at the Longdale community center and the other at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Church. More details on those to come as well.
There was much—or little—activity in the courtroom on Friday and Saturday, depending on how you look at it. But we've either been in the courtroom, and thus no connection, or scrambling to get our bigger package ready to go to press. We will be posting details on our observations on here, hopefully by mid-day Monday, so keep an eye out.
Meanwhile in a nutshell: The prosecution has rested. No surprise witnesses or conspirators testifying against Killen. Jim Hood got slapped by the judge for lack of prep. Mrs. Carolyn Goodman gave a very touching testimony Friday and then Mrs. Chaney on Saturday. The trial could go to the jury Monday. For more details, see the blog roll to the left of our Neshoba blog index page. Bardwell, Bromfield and John Sugg all have interesting info.
[Originally posted June 14] In a highly publicized resolution last night, the United States Senate formally apologized for the body's failure over the years to pass a federal anti-lynching law that might have been used for intervene in lynchings that occurred in the past century. The entirely symbolic resolution, co-sponsored by 80 Senators, was passed last night by unanimous voice vote ("All in favor say 'Aye'"). A recorded vote was skipped to, presumably, avoid embarrassing the one Democratic and 19 Republican Senators who decided not to put their names on the resolution as a co-sponsor, including both Senators Trent Lott and Thad Cochran from Mississippi. Bloggers have noted that both Lott and Cochran voted against federal hate crimes legislation in 2002 as well.
The first day of testimonies ended up being less than predictable. One moment court is in session while the next moment the court is recessed for "some period of time."
After successfully obtaining seats in the courtroom, we listened to the defense's motion which sought to have the 1967 court transcripts excluded from the current trial because, along with multiple other reasons that were given, this infringes upon a constitutional right as it is stated in the 6th Amendment--the defendant cannot address the witnesses because they are dead. They also sought to have photos of the victims excluded because the main reason for their use (according to the defense) would be for effect.
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Today, the first full day (supposedly) of testimony was hectic, even if not much testimony ended up being heard. Kate, Natalie and I started out at 7:30 outside the courthouse for the media lottery, and then all got into the courtroom (turned out not to be full). Inside, it was touching with a very self-assured Rita Schwerner Bender and her husband, Bill, sitting in the front row. Civil Rights hero (and Jacksonian) Hollis Watkins was there. Long-time Neshoba Democrat editor Stan Dearman, who tirelessly called for this trial for so long, joined the press corps. During the first break, Ben Chaney (James Chaney's brother) walked in accompanied by his sister Barbara Daily, as well as several family members of Emmitt Till. Also there was Keith Beauchamp, the young black filmmaker whose documentary (screened last year at JSU during a "Without Sanctuary" panel discussion) got the Till case re-opened was with Ben as well. It was an all-star cast and got better as the day went on.
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Feb 05, 07 | 5:54 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? Ironghost: Will this approach free whatshisname from prison? After all, (and I'm no lawyer), if the defense can come back with evidence that the prosecution hid, lies, and other hijinks, won't the idiot walk free?
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Feb 05, 07 | 5:50 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? ladd: Yep. Simply putting the spotlight on these cases and giving it our best shot sends a message to the victims—not to mention ourselves and our neighbors—that we give a damn.
Good enough for me....
Feb 05, 07 | 5:46 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? Tom Head: Y'know, every time I think about the prosecution of these pathetic old creeps, it reminds me of the Nuremberg trials. Did hanging a few Nazi generals bring "closure" to the victims of the Holocaust? Of course not. But it was a potent...
Feb 05, 07 | 5:02 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? Ray Carter: It would be so much easier for the State of Mississippi to get the very needed treatment (psychological and medical) and get WELL or CURED if the complete truth could just be told once and for all about the depth and extent of the depravity,...
Feb 05, 07 | 4:41 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? Ben G.: Right, exactly. I'm just emphasizing specifically the remaining known, living suspects in the Neshoba murders case. As long as those eight men (down from nine, now that Bowers is dead) remain unbothered by the Grand Jury, it is a significant emblem...
Feb 05, 07 | 3:56 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? ladd: True, Ben. I completely see your point. I never bought that prosecuting Killen was supposed to be some kind of "closure" for the state—although I understand that it was a potent symbol for the families. But, as you recall, even Rita Schwerner...
Feb 05, 07 | 3:52 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? Ben G.: Along the lines of your point on the Dee Moore thread about the importance of telling the whole story, I think that these cases should be pursued as much for the process of discovery as for who actually gets convicted.
I would like to see...
Feb 05, 07 | 3:21 pm More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings? ladd: Knowing who is alive and who isn't in the Neshoba case, I can understand the difficulty of further prosecutions (and am not convinced that acquittals in weak cases would help a whole lot).
However, I've never really understood why the state...
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