Security tight as mourners gather for funeral for prominent South African white supremacist

South African white supremacist to be laid to rest

VENTERSDORP, South Africa – Men in camouflage with pistols at their waists and little girls in their Sunday best gathered in northwestern South Africa Friday for the funeral of a white supremacist killed in what has been described as a wage dispute with two young black farmworkers.
Security … Read : Security tight as mourners gather for funeral for prominent South African white supremacist.

Qatari diplomat in bomb scare will leave country without charges as US plans to close case

US to close book on diplomat’s airline bomb scare

WASHINGTON – The U.S. plans to close the book on the bomb scare aboard a Denver-bound airliner after receiving assurances from Qatar that the diplomat who touched off the panic will be sent home, officials said.
The diplomat, Mohammed Al-Madadi, was flying from Washington to meet imprisoned al-Qaida …. Read the original article  : here.

Skater Nancy Kerrigan’s brother to be arraigned in Massachusetts court in father’s death

Kerrigan’s brother to be arraigned in Mass. court

BOSTON – An argument that prosecutors say climaxed with a violent clash has the brother of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan facing a manslaughter charge in the death of their 70-year-old father and the close-knit family vowing to help fight the charge.
A day after being indicted by a grand …. Source  : Skater Nancy Kerrigan’s brother to be arraigned in Massachusetts court in father’s death.

Lebanese psychic on death row in Saudi Arabia is man of religion, says his family

Family defends Lebanese psychic jailed in Saudi

AL-AIN, Lebanon – Lebanese psychic Ali Sibat had just woken from an afternoon nap in a Saudi hotel when the telephone rang. A Saudi man asked if he could make magical talisman for his sister who had marital problems. Sibat, in the kingdom on a pilgrimage, said he’d be … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lebanese psychic on death row in Saudi Arabia is man of religion, says his family.

Prison inmate in Indonesia spends 3 extra years behind bars because of clerical typo

Typo costs prisoner 3 extra years in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A Thai man has been released from an Indonesian prison after spending three extra years behind bars because of a typo in his paperwork, a report said Friday.
Kamjai Khong Thavorn, 53, should have been released in 2007 after serving a 20-year sentence for heroin possession … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prison inmate in Indonesia spends 3 extra years behind bars because of clerical typo.

Newspaper: Threats against members of Congress nearly triple, linked to health care overhaul

Growing number of threats target federal lawmakers
WASHINGTON – Ranging from vulgar language to talk of murder, threats against senators and representatives nearly tripled in recent months as the health care overhaul sparked public anger, The Washington Post reported.
House and Senate lawmakers reported 42 threats from January to March, compared with 15 … Read more >>.

Maoists attack Bihar village, two dead

Two farmers were killed in a late night raid by the Maoist guerrillas at a remote village in Bihar, police said today.

Police said hundreds of Maoists raided Kenar-Khurd village in Bihar’s Rohtas district around midnight on Thursday and shot dead two farmers, identified as father and son.
Maoists also blasted two houses by using dynamites before … Read : Maoists attack Bihar village, two dead.

Thousands of police take over street patrols from army in violent Mexico border city

Police take over from army in Mexico border city

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – Mexican army troops were pulled off Ciudad Juarez’s streets Thursday and replaced by thousands of federal police officers who will take over the fight against drug-related violence that claimed over 2,600 lives last year in this border city.
With lights flashing and helicopters churning [..] Read the original article: here.

Oregon jury to start deliberating case that seeks $29 million from Boy Scouts for sex abuse

Oregon jury gets Boy Scouts sex abuse case

PORTLAND, Ore. – A $29 million sex abuse lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America is in the hands of a jury after a lawyer for the victim closed the case by arguing the Scouts failed to act when they knew they had a serious problem.
In closing arguments, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Oregon jury to start deliberating case that seeks $29 million from Boy Scouts for sex abuse.

Lawyer: Mental patient’s statements in NYC therapist attack case show thinking not ‘normal’

Remarks OK’d as evidence in NYC therapist killing

NEW YORK – A defense lawyer says a schizophrenic’s videotaped statements to police about the meat-cleaver killing of a New York City therapist could help the mental patient, though they’re intended as evidence against him.
Attorney Bryan Konoski says he won’t contest a judge’s decision Thursday that David Tarloff’s … Read : Lawyer: Mental patient’s statements in NYC therapist attack case show thinking not ‘normal’.

Officials: Israeli PM Netanyahu calls off trip to conference on nuclear weapons in Washington

Israeli PM calls off trip to nuclear conference

JERUSALEM – Israel’s prime minister abruptly called off a trip to Washington just days before he was slated to attend a conference there on the spread of nuclear weapons, officials in his office said Friday, fearing Israel would be singled out over its own nuclear program.
Benjamin Netanyahu had …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Officials: Israeli PM Netanyahu calls off trip to conference on nuclear weapons in Washington.

Federal prosecutors say Pelosi feared her family was in danger after threatening calls

Prosecutors: Pelosi feared for family after calls

SAN FRANCISCO – The man charged with threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so livid over the health care overhaul that he made at least 48 calls to her offices and homes, leading the Democrat to fear that her family might be in danger, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Gregory Lee … Original source on Gaea Times at : Federal prosecutors say Pelosi feared her family was in danger after threatening calls.

Ex-nursing home worker guilty of punching, body-slamming residents at pricey Calif. facility

Ex-worker guilty of torturing elderly in Calif.

LOS ANGELES – A former nursing home worker accused of body-slamming one 78-year-old woman and encouraging wheelchair-confined residents of a pricey assisted-living facility to fight was found guilty Thursday of torture and elder abuse.
Jurors deliberated for less than a day before convicting Cesar Ulloa.
“He attacked the most vulnerable people, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Ex-nursing home worker guilty of punching, body-slamming residents at pricey Calif. facility.

Minn. prosecutor: Extraditing priest from India to face sexual assault charges may take years

Minn. attorney: Extraditing priest may take years

MINNEAPOLIS – Extraditing a Roman Catholic priest from his native India to face charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Minnesota could take several years, the prosecutor in the case said Thursday.
Roseau County Attorney Lisa Hanson said federal officials told her the extradition of Rev. Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Minn. prosecutor: Extraditing priest from India to face sexual assault charges may take years.

Santonio Holmes’ lawyer says unnamed evidence will exonerate Steeler receiver

Lawyer: Evidence will exonerate Santonio Holmes

ORLANDO, Fla. – An attorney for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes says he has mailed Orlando Police investigators evidence that will exonerate his client against allegations that he threw a glass at a woman in a nightclub.
Attorney Adam Swickle refused to say Thursday what the evidence was since it is …. Original source  : Santonio Holmes’ lawyer says unnamed evidence will exonerate Steeler receiver.

‘Family Ties’ actor Brian Bonsall gets probation after pleading guilty in fight with friend

‘Family Ties’ actor Bonsall sentenced to probation

BOULDER, Colo. – Former “Family Ties” actor Brian Bonsall has been sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to charges connected to a fight with a friend last year in Colorado.
The 28-year-old actor entered his plea Thursday in Boulder to felony menacing and third-degree assault.
Bonsall also pleaded guilty … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Family Ties’ actor Brian Bonsall gets probation after pleading guilty in fight with friend.

Diplomat involved in bomb scare was en route to meet jailed terrorist in Colorado

Diplomat was headed to meet jailed terrorist

WASHINGTON – A Qatari diplomat was on his way to an official visit with an imprisoned al-Qaida sleeper agent when he touched off a bomb scare by slipping into an airline bathroom for a smoke, officials said Thursday as the diplomat prepared to leave the U.S.
The diplomat, Mohammed Al-Madadi, … Read more »».

Stepdad of 7-year-old NJ girl defends 3 men who are among 5 accused gang-raping her at party

Stepdad of NJ girl defends 3 accused of raping her

TRENTON, N.J. – A horrifying case – a gang rape of a 7-year-old allegedly sold by her teenage stepsister to armed men – grew more bizarre when the girl’s stepfather showed up outside the Trenton courthouse Thursday to say that three of the five accused men … Original source on Gaea Times at : Stepdad of 7-year-old NJ girl defends 3 men who are among 5 accused gang-raping her at party.

Trial of 1st suspect in NJ schoolyard murders revisits tragedy that changed a city

Triple-death trial revisits Newark’s turning point

NEWARK, N.J. – The bodies of the three friends were found slumped near a playground wall, each killed by a shot to the head. Nearby, a fourth lay clinging to life after being shot and stabbed.
The barbarity of the August 2007 killings – a machete was believed used in the … Original article on : Trial of 1st suspect in NJ schoolyard murders revisits tragedy that changed a city.

Mayor of NYC suburb, already charged with domestic violence, accused of witness tampering

Mayor of NYC suburb accused of witness tampering

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – A suburban New York City mayor facing charges of roughing up his wife has been accused of trying to persuade her not to testify against him.
Court papers filed Thursday allege White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley told his wife she should recant her claims against … Original article on : Mayor of NYC suburb, already charged with domestic violence, accused of witness tampering.