Jury weighs sentence in racist rally killing

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Several people who were severely injured when a man drove his car into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally last year on Monday described devastating physical and psychological effects to a jury tasked with making a sentencing recommendation.

The man’s lawyers argued he acted in selfdefense and out of fear, and a psychologist testified that he has a long history of mental health issues. The jury began deliberating the sentence Monday afternoon and will continue Tuesday.

Jurors on Friday convicted James Alex Fields Jr. of first-degree murder and other charges for ramming his car into a crowd in Charlottesville during a “Unite the Right” rally on Aug. 12, 2017. Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal, was killed, and dozens were injured. Under the law, the jury can recommend from 20 years to life in prison.

Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, told jurors that her daughter’s death has been “an explosion in our family” and “we are forever scarred by the pain.”

“Some days I can’t do anything but cry and sit and stare as the grief overtakes me,” she said.

Jeanne “Star” Peterson said her life has been “a living nightmare” since she was hit by Fields’ car. Her right leg was shattered, and she’s had five surgeries to try to repair it. She also suffered a broken spine and still hasn’t been able to return to work.

Fields, 21, drove to Virginia from his home in Maumee, Ohio, to support the white nationalists. After the rally, as a large group of counterprotesters marched through Charlottesville singing and laughing, he stopped his car, backed up, then sped into the crowd, according to testimony from witnesses and video surveillance shown to jurors. Denise Lavoie is an Associated Press writer.