Trial underway for man accused of killing 3 at Jewish sites

A white supremacist wanted to explain to jurors Monday his motive for killing three people at Jewish sites in suburban Kansas City, but a judge told him the first phase of the capital murder trial was to focus exclusively on whether he committed the crimes – not why. Monday with a quote from the defendant shortly after his arrest. McMullin said he will also produce DNA evidence from a “chunk of bloody tissue” from Corporon’s brain that splattered and stuck to Miller’s auto , which the prosecutor called a “mobile arsenal”. McMullin said a “mountain of evidence” will prove Miller’s guilt, including his confession to police, a recorded confession to a friend, video surveillance of the murders and eyewitness accounts. The white Suzuki Forenza was stocked with a. 38 revolver, a. 30 caliber carbine rifle, shotguns and numerous rounds of ammunition. McMullin described the shotgun blast that blew Corporon’s brain from his head, and LaManno’s screams and pleas of “No! No!”

Corporon and Underwood were shot at close range in the parking lot outside the Jewish community center.

The 74-year-old Miller later completed his abbreviated opening statement. Concerned about how he might behave during the trial, prosecutors this week filed a memorandum of law addressing the court’s right to remove a disruptive defendant and deny Cross the right to defend himself.

“If I can’t explain why I did it, then I have no chance of being found not guilty”, Miller responded. The 74-year-old, who is representing himself in the capital murder trial, was halted so the judge could clarify what he was allowed to say. “I had good intentions in my heart”.

Cross was told to confine his statements to what the evidence would show. Stand-by attorney Mark Manna told the judge he had given Cross guidelines on how to do them and was hesitant to do more in his current capacity. “During war, innocent people get killed”, he said.

“I want you to vote with your honest, patriotic minds”, Cross told the jury after telling them he was just trying to secure a future for white children over the prosecution’s objection.

Miller, who has no formal legal training or significant courtroom experience, fired his three defense attorneys in May.