Accused Neo-Nazi Murderer Uses Hearing to Denounce Jews
Abraham Lincoln once said, 鈥淗e who represents himself has a fool for a client.鈥
Well, ladies and gentlemen, meet a big one 鈥 , the notorious neo-Nazi who is accused of gunning down three people last year in suburban Kansas City, apparently because he assumed they were Jewish.
They were not.
The 74-year-old Miller for the first time in court Wednesday in Kansas after firing his team of experienced defense lawyers last month in his capital murder case, because, as he said , 鈥淚t鈥檚 my life and I鈥檒l do as I please. The death penalty don鈥檛 bother me.鈥
On Wednesday, Miller tried to turn what was supposed to be hearing about motions filed previously by his former lawyers into a platform for his racist and extremist views, according to The Kansas City Star. At one point, the Star reports, Miller attempted to ask a witness if the man was Jewish. When the judge refused to allow the question, Miller said, 鈥淭his whole trial is predicated on my hatred of Jews.鈥
Miller also crossed-examined a woman he allegedly spared during the April 13, 2014, shooting spree at two Jewish community facilities in Overland Park, Kan. The woman, Maggie Hunker, told the court that she saw Miller kill someone in the parking lot of the Village Shalom care center.
Then Miller pointed a gun at her and asked if she was Jewish.
When she said no, Miller drove away.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad I didn鈥檛 shoot you,鈥 Miller told the woman in court on Wednesday, according to the Star.
鈥淢e too,鈥 she replied. 鈥淭hank you.鈥
Miller apparently asked no questions of the three people he is accused of killing that bloody Sunday in the spring of 2014.
William Corporon, 69, and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Underwood, were gunned down outside the Jewish Community Center, where an audition for a singing competition was being held. A few minutes later, Terri LaManno, 53, was killed outside the Village Shalom care center.
The Wednesday hearing in Johnson County District court was about defense motions filed to suppress witnesses鈥 testimony identifying Miller as the gunman, the Star said. Miller told the judge, Kelly Ryan, that he wanted to withdraw all the motions, which had been filed by his lawyers before he fired them last month.
鈥淭his is absolutely pointless,鈥 Miller said.
The judge refused, saying the motions were a critical part of the case. The judge is expected to rule on the motions later. Miller鈥檚 capital murder trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 17.
During the hearing, prosecutors played a video of Miller sitting in a patrol car immediately after the murders, saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 an anti-Semite. I hate goddamn Jews.鈥