Ark. to pay legal bills for accused shooter

[unhappycamper]

Ark. to pay legal bills for accused shooter
By Jill Zeman Bleed - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 11, 2010 15:35:54 EST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas judge on Monday ordered the state's Public Defenders Commission to pay some of the legal bills for a man who says he killed a soldier outside a military recruiting center in retaliation for U.S. military action in the Middle East.

Abdulhakim Muhammad testified he has no money to pay for experts or investigators who might help defend him against charges of capital murder and attempted murder in the June 1 attack outside the Army-Navy Recruiting Center in a west Little Rock shopping center. Judge Herbert Wright said the state should pay part of the bill for Muhammad's private attorney.

Muhammad, a Muslim convert who moved to Little Rock from Memphis, Tenn., last year, has pleaded not guilty in the death of Pvt. William Long and the wounding of Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula. He said last year the shootings were justified because of U.S. military action in the Middle East.

"Yes, I did tell the police upon my arrest that this was an act of retaliation, and not a reaction on the soldiers personally," Muhammad told the AP in an interview two weeks after the shootings. He called the attack an "act, for the sake of God, for the sake of Allah, the Lord of all the world, and also a retaliation on U.S. military."

A trial is set for June 7. Muhammad could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/ap_recruiters_shot_011110/

[stray cat]

1. If you can not afford an attorney one will be provided for you - those are the rights we give

[Bitwit1234]

2. As horrible as this is. The American legal system and the courts provide this

for everyone who can not afford to pay.