Post by Okwes on Jun 2, 2008 11:00:27 GMT -5
Makah court defers prosecution for 5
Posted by: "Victoria" bayarea_uk@yahoo.com bayarea_uk
Fri May 16, 2008 10:06 am (PDT)
May, 15, 2008 Makah court defers prosecution for 5 who killed gray
whale www.bellinghamherald.com/northwest/story/410858.html
<http://www.bellinghamherald.com/northwest/story/410858.html>
NEAH BAY, Wash. -- A Makah judge deferred prosecution for five tribal
members who killed a gray whale.
The court was unable to seat a jury for trial in Neah Bay on tribal
charges of animal cruelty and discharging a firearm. Most of the 200
potential jurors were related to the defendants or had strong feelings
about the case.
Chief Tribal Judge Stanley Myers said Wednesday the charges will be
dropped after a year if the five abide by conditions to be set June 30
by a federal court in Tacoma. The men have either pleaded guilty or been
convicted of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The men harpooned the whale four times and shot it at least 16 times on
Sept. 8 and it died and sank.
The tribe claims a treaty right to kill gray whales as it did in 1999.
Posted by: "Victoria" bayarea_uk@yahoo.com bayarea_uk
Fri May 16, 2008 10:06 am (PDT)
May, 15, 2008 Makah court defers prosecution for 5 who killed gray
whale www.bellinghamherald.com/northwest/story/410858.html
<http://www.bellinghamherald.com/northwest/story/410858.html>
NEAH BAY, Wash. -- A Makah judge deferred prosecution for five tribal
members who killed a gray whale.
The court was unable to seat a jury for trial in Neah Bay on tribal
charges of animal cruelty and discharging a firearm. Most of the 200
potential jurors were related to the defendants or had strong feelings
about the case.
Chief Tribal Judge Stanley Myers said Wednesday the charges will be
dropped after a year if the five abide by conditions to be set June 30
by a federal court in Tacoma. The men have either pleaded guilty or been
convicted of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The men harpooned the whale four times and shot it at least 16 times on
Sept. 8 and it died and sank.
The tribe claims a treaty right to kill gray whales as it did in 1999.