Museum-killing indictment

Museum-killing indictment

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury indicted an elderly white supremacist Wednesday on charges that could earn him the death penalty in the fatal shooting of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Hate crimes charges were added to the case against James von Brunn, who has been in a hospital since the shooting last month.

Officials say the 89-year-old shot and killed museum guard Stephen T. Johns on June 10. Von Brunn was shot in the face by other guards but survived.

A seven-count indictment was handed up Wednesday in U.S. District Court, charging von Brunn with first-degree murder, killing in a federal building — both charges already lodged against him — and a new charge of bias-motivated crime. Four of the charges make him eligible for the death penalty.

Home for Gitmo detainees

DUBLIN — Ireland’s agreement Wednesday to take two homeless Guantanamo prisoners demonstrates that patient diplomacy between the United States and Europe is starting to play its part in shutting down the notorious U.S. prison.

Daniel Fried, the Obama administration’s special envoy tasked with closing the camp, is back in Europe this week seeking to build on a European Union agreement clearing the way for any member of the 27-nation bloc to accept prisoners who could face persecution in their homelands.

Though most European states remain frosty to the idea of taking Guantanamo prisoners off American hands, a growing number of nations — including Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain — say they definitely or probably will take at least one of the approximately 50 prisoners.

Criticism for Iran abuses

CAIRO — Iran’s leadership faced sharp criticism Wednesday from top clerics and even conservative supporters over prison abuses, including detainee deaths and the brutal beatings of protesters arrested in the post-election crackdown.

In a move likely to anger the opposition, officials announced the first trials will begin Saturday, with the prosecution of around 20 protesters. They include some accused of sending images of the unrest to the media.

The bodies of several young protesters have been turned over to their families in recent weeks, all showing signs of beatings or other abuse while in custody, according to pro-opposition Web sites, citing accounts from relatives. Among them was the son of a prominent conservative, which has brought a wave of criticism from the camp that generally backs the government.

Korean Peninsula tensions

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea seized a South Korean fishing boat early today after it accidentally crossed the countries’ sea border, a news report said.

Yonhap news agency quoted a Defense Ministry official as saying that the incident took place about 6:30 a.m. in the East Sea and that four people were on board the South Korean boat.

He said that the boat’s satellite navigation system appeared to have malfunctioned and that a North Korean patrol boat took the ship into custody. Yonhap said the official spoke on condition of anonymity.

South Korea was working to secure the release of the boat, Yonhap quoted another official as saying.

Urging presidential pardon

WASHINGTON — Congress approved a resolution Wednesday urging a presidential pardon for Jack Johnson, the late black heavyweight champion who was imprisoned because of his romantic ties with a white woman.

The House passed the resolution by voice vote, about a month after the Senate approved it.

Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion in 1908, a century before the nation elected Barack Obama its first black president. The Senate resolution was sponsored by Obama’s 2008 GOP rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. The law has since been heavily amended but has not been repealed.

Life term for serial killer

PHOENIX — A jury spared a man convicted in a series of random nighttime shootings from the death penalty and sentenced him to life in prison Wednesday.

Samuel Dieteman, who pleaded guilty to two of six murders in the metropolitan Phoenix Serial Shooter case of 2005 and 2006, appeared stoic as the jury’s decision was announced.

His lawyer and family members cried as the verdict was read.

Associated Press