-Caveat Lector- Brothers plead innocent in slaying of gay couple By DOUG WILLIS< Associated Press Writer REDDING, Calif. (AP) -- Two brothers accused of slaying a gay couple pleaded innocent Thursday to murder charges that could carry the death penalty. Benjamin Matthew Williams, 31, and James Tyler Williams, 29, have been held without bail in the Shasta County Jail since their arrest July 7. The brothers, also suspects in June arson fires at three Sacramento area synagogues, are accused of murdering Gary Matson, 50, and Winfield Scott Mowder, 40. Matson and Mowder were found shot to death in their bed July 1 in rural Happy Valley near Redding, about 165 miles north of Sacramento. In a 10-minute court appearance, the Williams brothers each entered not-guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree murder, plus four related robbery, burglary and auto theft charges. They could face the death penalty if convicted. Superior Court Judge George Nelson scheduled a preliminary hearing Aug. 12 to determine whether the case should go to trial. The judge denied without explanation requests by the brothers' attorneys that he delay the preliminary hearing and close it to the public and press. "The chance for a fair and unbiased trial is reduced substantially by an open preliminary hearing," said James Webster, a lawyer representing James Tyler Williams. District Attorney McGregor Scott said that while the charges could be prosecuted as a capital punishment case, he would not decide whether to seek the death penalty until after the preliminary hearing. Evidence found in the brothers' homes also links them to fires that caused more than $1 million damage to the three synagogues June 18, investigators say. No charges have been filed in the arson case. The murders and the arson fires have been classified as hate crimes by the FBI. The Williams brothers were arrested in Yuba City when they went to pick up merchandise ordered with one of Matson's credit cards. One of the brothers wore a bulletproof vest, and they were armed with two assault rifles, a shotgun and 9 mm pistols and had Matson's wallet, driver's license and Social Security card, officers said. "We miss our friends," said Lee Macy, who knew the slain couple."It's frightening for a lot of people to think this could happen here." A search of the brothers' homes turned up a notebook containing names of people associated with the synagogues and found hate literature that included handouts from the World Church of the Creator, an Illinois-based white supremacist group. A former member targeted minorities in a Midwestern shooting spree over the Fourth of July weekend, killing two and wounding nine before committing suicide. http://www.sacbee.com/news/calreport/calrep_story.cgi?N210.HTML Bard Visit me at: The Center for Exposing Corruption in the Federal Government http://www.xld.com/public/center/center.htm Federal Government defined: ....a benefit/subsidy protection racket! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
