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U.S. NEWS Thursday 28 March 2019

Guilty plea to hate crimes in deadly car attack at rally

By DENISE LAVOIE AP Legal race, color, religion or na-
Affairs Writer tional origin.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Urbanski scheduled sen-
— In a case that stirred tencing for July 3.
racial tensions across the Fields, 21, was convicted
country, a self-avowed in December in a Virginia
white supremacist pleaded court of first-degree murder
guilty Wednesday to fed- and other state charges
eral hate crime charges in for killing anti-racism activ-
a deadly attack at a white ist Heather Heyer and injur-
nationalist rally in Virginia, ing dozens of others who
admitting that he intention- were protesting against the
ally plowed his speeding white nationalists.
car into a crowd of anti- The rally drew hundreds of
racism protesters, killing a white nationalists to Char-
woman and injuring doz- lottesville to protest the
ens. planned removal of a stat-
James Alex Fields Jr. of ue of Confederate Gen.
Maumee, Ohio, pleaded Robert E. Lee. Hundreds of
guilty to 29 of 30 federal counterprotesters demon-
charges stemming from strated against the white
the "Unite the Right" rally in nationalists.
Charlottesville on Aug. 12, President Donald Trump
2017. sparked a national uproar
Under a plea agreement, when he blamed the vio-
federal prosecutors will lence at the rally on "both
not seek the death pen- sides," a statement critics
alty against Fields and will saw as a refusal to con-
dismiss the one count that demn racism.
carried death as a possible After Tuesday's hearing,
punishment. The charges U.S. Attorney Thomas Cul- This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex
he pleaded guilty to call for len said he hoped the plea Fields Jr.
life in prison under federal agreement would help the Associated Press
sentencing guidelines. victims move on with their
Fields appeared stoic, with lives. but did not seek to finalize The jury rejected a claim state trial.
his hands folded in front of "The defendant's hate-in- a deal until U.S. Attorney by Fields' lawyers that he Jurors in Fields' state trial rec-
him for much of the hear- spired act of domestic ter- General William Barr last acted in self-defense be- ommended a life sentence
ing. He repeatedly re- rorism not only devastated week authorized him not cause he feared for his life plus 419 years, although a
sponded "yes, sir," when Heather Heyer's wonderful to seek the death penalty after witnessing the earlier judge still has to decide on
U.S. District Judge Michael family and the 28 peace- if Fields agreed to plead to violence. the punishment. Sentenc-
Urbanski asked him if he ful protesters ... but it also 29 counts. During the plea hearing ing is scheduled for July
was pleading guilty know- left an indelible mark on The car attack by Fields Wednesday, Fields — re- 15. A reporter asked Bro if
ingly and voluntarily. the city of Charlottesville, came after violent brawl- sponding to questions from she thought her daughter's
Under a "statement of our state and our country," ing between the two sides the judge — said he has death had served some
facts," Fields admitted that Cullen said. Heyer's mother, prompted police to dis- been treated for mental purpose, such as opening
he "expressed and pro- Susan Bro, said she and band the crowds. health issues since he was a discussion of race rela-
moted" white supremacist Heyer's father agreed they During his state trial, pros- 6. He said he is currently on tions. She answered: "Sadly,
ideology through his social did not want prosecutors to ecutors said Fields — who medication for bipolar dis- it took a white girl dying be-
media accounts and en- seek the death penalty. described himself on social order, depression, anxiety, fore anyone paid attention
gaged in white suprema- "There's no point in killing media as an admirer of schizoid disorder, explosive to civil rights around here ...
cist chants during the rally him," she said. "It would not Adolf Hitler — drove his car onset disorder and ADHD. Heather's death is at least a
in Charlottesville. He also bring back Heather." into the crowd because he More than 30 people were catalyst for change."
admitted driving his car Cullen said prosecutors had was angry after witnessing hurt in the car attack. Some Bro said she wouldn't have
into the ethnically diverse been in talks with Fields' earlier clashes between who received life-altering chosen that catalyst and
crowd of anti-racism pro- lawyers for months about a the white nationalists and injuries described them in added, "I wish we would
testers because of their potential plea agreement, the counterprotesters. anguished detail during the have woken up sooner."q