Prosecutors mull possible retrial in 1991 murders 3:34 pm APNews

Prosecutors in Arizona were expected to announce Tuesday whether a man convicted of killing nine people at a Buddhist temple will be retried after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn a decision that threw out his confession.

Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said prosecutors were in meetings Tuesday morning to discuss whether they will refile charges against Jonathan Doody in the 1991 killings and try the case anew.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal by Arizona officials who asked for a re-examination of a lower court's decision to throw out Doody's confession.

Doody was convicted of the slayings of six priests, a nun and two helpers during a robbery at the Wat Promkunaram temple west of Phoenix. The bodies were found arranged in a circle, and all had been shot in the head.

Doody, who was 17 at the time of the killings, was sentenced to 281 years in prison after he was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges in the slayings. He maintained that he's innocent.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Doody's Miranda warnings were inadequate and threw out the conviction, ruling the confession was involuntary, partly because he wasn't properly read his rights by the officers interrogating him.

Lawyers for the state contended that Doody's confession was reliable and admissible and cited an Arizona court's decision that upheld the confession.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, whose office defended the conviction in appeals courts but won't handle a possible retrial, said there's other evidence of Doody's guilt even without the confession.

Horne said he expects that Doody would remain behind bars while he awaits a potential retrial.

Victoria Eiger, a lawyer who handled Doody's appeals, said there's no substance left to the case after Doody's confession is taken out of the picture. "It was the cornerstone of the state's case," Eiger said.

Four Tucson men were arrested in the killings, but were released after investigators found they weren't involved.

Doody and another teen were arrested after investigators linked them to the murder weapon.

Co-defendant Alessandro Garcia, who pleaded guilty in the case to escape the death penalty in exchange for his testimony, said Doody was the triggerman. Doody was spared the death penalty because the judge couldn't determine whether he fired the weapon.

Garcia testified that the two wanted to steal large amounts of gold and cash that they believed to be kept by the monks. Investigators said the robbery netted some cash and electronics gear.

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Prosecutors mull possible retrial in 1991 murders

By JACQUES BILLEAUD | Associated Press • Published October 11, 2011 Modified October 11, 2011

PHOENIX – Prosecutors in Arizona were expected to announce Tuesday whether a man convicted of killing nine people at a Buddhist temple will be retried after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn a decision that threw out his confession.

Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said prosecutors were in meetings Tuesday morning to discuss whether they will refile charges against Jonathan Doody in the 1991 killings and try the case anew.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal by Arizona officials who asked for a re-examination of a lower court's decision to throw out Doody's confession.

Doody was convicted of the slayings of six priests, a nun and two helpers during a robbery at the Wat Promkunaram temple west of Phoenix. The bodies were found arranged in a circle, and all had been shot in the head.

Doody, who was 17 at the time of the killings, was sentenced to 281 years in prison after he was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges in the slayings. He maintained that he's innocent.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Doody's Miranda warnings were inadequate and threw out the conviction, ruling the confession was involuntary, partly because he wasn't properly read his rights by the officers interrogating him.

Lawyers for the state contended that Doody's confession was reliable and admissible and cited an Arizona court's decision that upheld the confession.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, whose office defended the conviction in appeals courts but won't handle a possible retrial, said there's other evidence of Doody's guilt even without the confession.

Horne said he expects that Doody would remain behind bars while he awaits a potential retrial.

Victoria Eiger, a lawyer who handled Doody's appeals, said there's no substance left to the case after Doody's confession is taken out of the picture. "It was the cornerstone of the state's case," Eiger said.

Four Tucson men were arrested in the killings, but were released after investigators found they weren't involved.

Doody and another teen were arrested after investigators linked them to the murder weapon.

Co-defendant Alessandro Garcia, who pleaded guilty in the case to escape the death penalty in exchange for his testimony, said Doody was the triggerman. Doody was spared the death penalty because the judge couldn't determine whether he fired the weapon.

Garcia testified that the two wanted to steal large amounts of gold and cash that they believed to be kept by the monks. Investigators said the robbery netted some cash and electronics gear.

The killings stirred outrage in Thailand, where monks are revered and where most men serve a brief stint as apprentice monks at some point in their lives.

Doody was born in Thailand to Buddhist parents. His mother belonged to the temple.

View the original article here

Prosecutors mull possible retrial in 1991 murders

By JACQUES BILLEAUD | Associated Press • Published October 11, 2011 Modified October 11, 2011

PHOENIX – Prosecutors in Arizona were expected to announce Tuesday whether a man convicted of killing nine people at a Buddhist temple will be retried after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn a decision that threw out his confession.

Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said prosecutors were in meetings Tuesday morning to discuss whether they will refile charges against Jonathan Doody in the 1991 killings and try the case anew.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal by Arizona officials who asked for a re-examination of a lower court's decision to throw out Doody's confession.

Doody was convicted of the slayings of six priests, a nun and two helpers during a robbery at the Wat Promkunaram temple west of Phoenix. The bodies were found arranged in a circle, and all had been shot in the head.

Doody, who was 17 at the time of the killings, was sentenced to 281 years in prison after he was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges in the slayings. He maintained that he's innocent.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Doody's Miranda warnings were inadequate and threw out the conviction, ruling the confession was involuntary, partly because he wasn't properly read his rights by the officers interrogating him.

Lawyers for the state contended that Doody's confession was reliable and admissible and cited an Arizona court's decision that upheld the confession.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, whose office defended the conviction in appeals courts but won't handle a possible retrial, said there's other evidence of Doody's guilt even without the confession.

Horne said he expects that Doody would remain behind bars while he awaits a potential retrial.

Victoria Eiger, a lawyer who handled Doody's appeals, said there's no substance left to the case after Doody's confession is taken out of the picture. "It was the cornerstone of the state's case," Eiger said.

Four Tucson men were arrested in the killings, but were released after investigators found they weren't involved.

Doody and another teen were arrested after investigators linked them to the murder weapon.

Co-defendant Alessandro Garcia, who pleaded guilty in the case to escape the death penalty in exchange for his testimony, said Doody was the triggerman. Doody was spared the death penalty because the judge couldn't determine whether he fired the weapon.

Garcia testified that the two wanted to steal large amounts of gold and cash that they believed to be kept by the monks. Investigators said the robbery netted some cash and electronics gear.

The killings stirred outrage in Thailand, where monks are revered and where most men serve a brief stint as apprentice monks at some point in their lives.

Doody was born in Thailand to Buddhist parents. His mother belonged to the temple.

View the original article here

Prosecutors mull possible retrial in 1991 murders

By JACQUES BILLEAUD | Associated Press • Published October 11, 2011 Modified October 11, 2011

PHOENIX – Prosecutors in Arizona were expected to announce Tuesday whether a man convicted of killing nine people at a Buddhist temple will be retried after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn a decision that threw out his confession.

Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said prosecutors were in meetings Tuesday morning to discuss whether they will refile charges against Jonathan Doody in the 1991 killings and try the case anew.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal by Arizona officials who asked for a re-examination of a lower court's decision to throw out Doody's confession.

Doody was convicted of the slayings of six priests, a nun and two helpers during a robbery at the Wat Promkunaram temple west of Phoenix. The bodies were found arranged in a circle, and all had been shot in the head.

Doody, who was 17 at the time of the killings, was sentenced to 281 years in prison after he was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges in the slayings. He maintained that he's innocent.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Doody's Miranda warnings were inadequate and threw out the conviction, ruling the confession was involuntary, partly because he wasn't properly read his rights by the officers interrogating him.

Lawyers for the state contended that Doody's confession was reliable and admissible and cited an Arizona court's decision that upheld the confession.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, whose office defended the conviction in appeals courts but won't handle a possible retrial, said there's other evidence of Doody's guilt even without the confession.

Horne said he expects that Doody would remain behind bars while he awaits a potential retrial.

Victoria Eiger, a lawyer who handled Doody's appeals, said there's no substance left to the case after Doody's confession is taken out of the picture. "It was the cornerstone of the state's case," Eiger said.

Four Tucson men were arrested in the killings, but were released after investigators found they weren't involved.

Doody and another teen were arrested after investigators linked them to the murder weapon.

Co-defendant Alessandro Garcia, who pleaded guilty in the case to escape the death penalty in exchange for his testimony, said Doody was the triggerman. Doody was spared the death penalty because the judge couldn't determine whether he fired the weapon.

Garcia testified that the two wanted to steal large amounts of gold and cash that they believed to be kept by the monks. Investigators said the robbery netted some cash and electronics gear.

The killings stirred outrage in Thailand, where monks are revered and where most men serve a brief stint as apprentice monks at some point in their lives.

Doody was born in Thailand to Buddhist parents. His mother belonged to the temple.

View the original article here

Two Palestinians indicted in Fogel murders

June 5, 2011

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Two Palestinian teenagers were indicted in the murder of five members of the Fogel family from the West Bank settlement of Itamar.

Amjad Awad, 19, who worked as a laborer in Israel, and Hakim Awad 18, a high school student, were indicted on Sunday in a West Bank military court for the murders of Udi Fogel, 36, Ruth Fogel, 35, and their children Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and Hadas, 3 months.

The men reportedly confessed to the March 11 murder, and military prosecuters say there is forensic evidence linking them to the scene of the crime, including DNA samples and fingerprints, Haaretz reported. The men were also charged with stealing weapons, breaking and entering, and conspiracy to commit a crime, according reports. They are residents of the West Bank town of Hawarta, located near Itamar, and have been connected to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. 

"I'm proud of what I did," Ynet quoted Amjad Awad as saying just minutes before the hearing. "I don't regret what I did, even if it means I'm sentenced to death."

Israel does not have the death penalty expect for convictions for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people, and treason in wartime, though some politicians have called for the men to be sentenced to death if found guilty.

Three of the Fogel children survived the attack; two were sleeping in a side bedroom and were not discovered, and a daughter was out of the house at the time of the killings.

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Suspect named in family murders

3 May 2011 Last updated at 19:44 Jifeng Ding and Alice Ding died from stab wounds, police have revealed A suspect in the investigation into the murders of a couple and their two daughters has been named by detectives.

Police said Anxiang Du, 52, was being sought in connection with the deaths of the family who were found stabbed in their home in Pioneer Close, Wootton, Northampton, on Sunday night.

The family was named locally as college lecturer Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen Chui, and daughters Alice and Xing.

Police said Mr Du, from Coventry, had left a suicide note.

Mr Du left a note to his family implying it was time to say goodbye.

He is understood to have been a business associate of Ms Chui dealing in herbal remedies.

The 52-year-old left his home in Coventry at 1030 BST on Friday to go to work in Birmingham but never returned.

He was last seen on 29 April in Birmingham City Centre, Pallisades Shopping Centre and was wearing a white baseball cap, brown waist-length coat, grey trousers, a blue woollen top and black leather shoes.

He was described by police as being of slim build with a bald patch.

Police said they were still looking for a murder weapon.

The bodies were found in a house in Pioneer Close, Northampton

Det Supt Glyn Timmins said: "The public should be cautious. The reason being is that, obviously having left a suicide note Mr Du had a particular state of mind.

"What I can say is that he's likely to be frightened, he's likely to be quite desperate and certainly when, and if, he sees this in the media he's certainly going to be very anxious and nervous.

"Therefore I think the prudent thing to do would be to assume that Mr Du should not be approached and that's a job for the police if and when he's sighted."

Earlier, police said they did not think the family were victims of a random attack.

They are believed to be investigating the background of the family - who are of Chinese descent - to try to establish a motive for the murder.

Police also want to trace a silver five-door Vauxhall Corsa, registration BG60 PMO, that was hired by one of the family members and was last seen on Friday.

'Shocked and saddened'

A tribute page set up on Facebook to Nancy, 18, who has the Chinese name of Xing, and Alice, 12, has been joined by more than 1,500 people.

On a separate page, comments have been made by students at Manchester Metropolitan University in praise of Xing and Alice's father Jifeng, who was known as Jeff.

Helen Chui is believed to have worked locally as a teacher.

Manchester Metropolitan University said it was "shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Dr Jeff Ding".

"As a senior lecturer, Jeff was a popular and dedicated member of staff who joined the university in 2004," a university spokesman said.

"Jeff will be very sadly missed by all his colleagues in the division of chemistry and environmental sciences, all our staff, students and his friends at Manchester Metropolitan University and by the wider academic and research communities."

Babatunde Adekoya, from the student union at the university said: "You wouldn't find anyone as delightful as him throughout the university. He was always ready to help students in their time of need."

Det Supt Glyn Timmins said police want to question 52-year-old Anxiang Du

Weekly Diaspora: Justice for Brisenia as Minutemen leader convicted of murders

Days after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne filed suit against the federal government for allegedly failing to protect the state from a Mexican "invasion," the high-profile murder conviction of a Minutemen border vigilante underscores the state's misguided border priorities.

Earlier this week, a jury found Shawna Forde -- leader of the Minutemen American Defense (MAD) -- guilty of murdering 8-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul Flores, Jr. during a racially motivated home invasion in 2009. Forde faces the death penalty for orchestrating the robbery and murders.

ColorLines' Julianne Hing reports that Forde had planned a number of elaborate home invasions to raise funds for her border patrol activities -- targeting individuals whom she (erroneously) believed to be drug dealers. Though no drugs were found in the Flores home, Forde -- who, incidentally, has close ties to both the Tea Party and the conservative think-tank Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) -- nevertheless justified Brisenia's murder on the grounds that "people shouldn't deal drugs if they have kids." After watching Forde's accomplices shoot her mother and kill her father, Brisenia was shot twice in the face.

While Latino advocacy groups have characterized the Flores murders as hate crimes provoked -- at least in part -- by state leaders' incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric, many regard Forde's conviction as one of many indicators that the tables are turning on anti-immigrant politicos like Brewer who have curried political support through fear-mongering and misinformation.

Less tolerance for border vigilantes

As Valeria Fernandez reports at New America Media, the verdict comes just weeks after another Arizona court upheld a decision against rancher Roger Barnett who, in an act of unwarranted border vigilantism, assaulted a group of migrants traveling across his property. Barnett was fined $80,000. While the Forde and Barnett cases are only two incidents of a nationwide rash of anti-Latino crime, their convictions are particularly significant in Arizona, where state leaders have long tolerated and even encouraged border vigilantism as a necessary response to purported border-related violence.

A year ago, state politicians -- including Brewer -- fomented a national anti-immigrant mania (which handily ushered in SB 1070) by promoting false reports of border violence. As Valeria Fernandez reported at Feet in 2 Worlds last March, lawmakers were quick to attribute the shooting of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz to an unidentified, undocumented Mexican immigrant -- though the sheriff in charge of the case later told the press that the prime suspect was not actually Mexican.

Brewer, for her part, gained national notoriety after fabricating tales of beheadings in the Arizona desert -- which, as I wrote for Campus Progress at the time -- generated support for her anti-immigrant political agenda while diverting public attention away from the reality that  most of Arizona's border violence is directed at immigrants, rather than perpetrated by them.

Arizona's countersuit against the federal government

Brewer's recent countersuit against the federal government -- which alleges that Arizona is under invasion from the south and that the feds have failed to protect the state accordingly -- similarly conjures nativist fantasies of immigrant-fueled border violence. But, as Scott Lemieux posits at TAPPED, the suit idly and transparently villainizes immigrants:

It is (to put it mildly) a stretch to argue that Arizona is undergoing an "invasion." Illegal immigration does not constitute a military threat or an attempt to overthrow the state government; anti-immigration metaphors are not a sound basis for constitutional interpretation.

Like those propagated by state lawmakers during Arizona's nativist heyday last spring, this new offensive belies the reality that, while anti-Latino hate crimes have risen by 52 per cent nationally in recent years, border crime has been on the decline for quite some time -- a fact noted by Alternet's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd in her coverage of the countersuit.

Yet, in an effort to further their extreme, anti-immigrant agenda, Arizona's nativist lawmakers determinedly maintain the myth that Latin American immigration somehow generates a groundswell of violent crime -- even when doing so requires the hasty revision of a rancher's death, and the callous disregard of an innocent child's murder.

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about immigration by members of The Media Consortium. It is free to reprint. Visit the Diaspora for a complete list of articles on immigration issues, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy, environment, and health care issues, check out The Audit, The Mulch, and The Pulse. This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of leading independent media outlets.

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