Jury wants life for ‘Nazi’ killer
A jury recommended life in prison plus 419 years Tuesday for the Nazi sympathizer who drove into a crowd of protesters last year in Virginia, killing a woman.
Jurors urged the sentence after listening to an emotional statement from Susan Bro, the mother of 32year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed on Aug. 12, 2017, when James Alex Fields Jr., 21, plowed into her and other people protesting the white-nationalist “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville.
“Heather was full of love, justice and fairness,” Bro said in her victimimpact statement. “Mr. Fields tried to silence her . . I refuse to let him.” The verdict was reached after about four hours of deliberation over two days. Fields stood impassively, his hands folded in front of him, as it was read by a court clerk.
Judge Richard Moore will now take the verdict under advisement and has scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 29. Virginia judges usually impose the sentence recommended by juries.
Prosecutors said the murder was premeditated and played videos that showed Fields backing his car up before barreling down a street crowded with protesters.
One of the 35 people injured, Jeanne “Star” Peterson, said her life has been a “living nightmare” since the assault, in which her spine was broken and her right leg shattered.
Hours before the deadly attack, Fields marched in the rally among other white supremacists, some in red “Make America Great Again” hats and chanting, “Jews will not replace us.”