Arizona jury condemns anti-immigration activist to death
TUCSON, Arizona |
TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) - A jury on Tuesday sentenced the leader of a small Arizona group opposed to illegal immigration to die for her role in the home invasion shooting deaths of a father and his 9-year-old daughter.
The jury of 11 women and one man returned the death penalty verdict for Shawna Forde, 43, the founder and leader of the Minutemen American Defense group, for the May 30, 2009, killings of Brisenia Flores, 9, and her father, Raul Junior Flores, 29, in Arivaca, in southern Arizona.
The case now automatically goes to the Arizona Supreme Court for an appeal.
A jury found Forde guilty on two charges of first degree murder earlier this month. It also convicted her of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Flores' wife, Gina Gonzalez, 31, together with related counts of aggravated assault and robbery.
Superior Court Judge John Leonardo will sentence Forde on April 25 on those charges.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged Forde planned to use funds from the robbery to bankroll her border watch group, according to news reports.
Forde turned up at the family's home during the night and identified herself and a companion as police officers looking for fugitives, the Arizona Daily Star newspaper reported.
The gunman then shot and killed Flores and his daughter and wounded Gonzalez, who survived and managed to call 911.
Two co-defendants, Albert Robert Gaxiola and Jason Eugene Bush, were charged with Forde in the shootings and are awaiting trial. Prosecutors allege that Forde and Gaxiola chose the house and initiated and led the attacks, according to court documents.
Prosecutors cited multiple murders, a victim under age 15 and monetary gain as circumstances supporting the death penalty for Forde.
(Reporting by Brad Poole; writing by Tim Gaynor; editing by Peter Bohan)
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You are running a yellow journalist dream boat article when you call those folks … anti immigration activist. It is rude, offensive and ugly, and you will gain a reputation if you continue the process. You may not care as a guess because your stupid article simply ignores the fact that these people are three in millions who are not against immigration, but want the laws enforced where illegal aliens are concerned. A very big difference.
So you ‘got’ us with this article. I shall refer to your organization as the propaganda machine until you make an effort to understand the issues.
http://www.fairus.org
http://www.cis.org
http://www.numbersusa.com
http://www.heritage.org/issues/immigration
These are very well referenced although require though.
This site tells you why Americans are not going to allow such as Obama to kick them under the bus. It also is well referenced.
http://one-simple-idea.com/BorderSecurity.htm
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