PLEASE FORWARD - PLEASE FORWARD

A Message from the Eddie Hatcher Defense Committee
N.C. Native American Activist Death Penalty Trial
http://www.eddiehatcher.org

Update: 4/25/01

Dear friends,
The Eddie Hatcher website is up and running again at its original
location (www.eddiehatcher.org). Please inform other supporters who may
not be on this email list. Apologies for any confusion created by the
brief disappearance of the website.
To receive a daily trial update via the "eddiehatcher" email list,
go to <http://www.eddiehatcher.org> and enter your email address in the
box at the bottom of the screen.

TRIAL ISSUES:

1) TREATMENT AT THE ROBESON COUNTY JAIL
Jailers have been mistreating Eddie Hatcher in different ways
throughout his incarceration. Recently, they have not been allowing
Eddie to buy items from the commissary and have been serving him
terrible food. Attorneys Sue Berry and Woody Bowen brought this issue
before Judge Martin in court yesterday. Judge Martin ordered that the
sheriff's office correct these and other problems, and ensure that he
receive warm, decent food.

2) JURY SELECTION
All twelve jurors have been selected, but three alternates remain
to be picked. The current composition of the jury is 5 whites, 5
African Americans and 2 Native Americans. Many jurors have been
stricken because they have strong opinions about Eddie or the death
penalty. Jury selection continued today, but no alternates were chosen.
We expect that jury selection will be complete by the end of the week.

3) EVIDENTIARY HEARING
As soon as jury selection is finished, Judge Martin will hear
additional testimony on the motion to dismiss. The defense is planning
on calling Private Investigator Thurman Mitchell, who interviewed
jailers about the raid of Eddie Hatcher's cell in late January.
(Confidential defense documents were stolen in the raid, resulting in
the defense's motion to dismiss the charges). We also expect that a
jail administrator will take the stand. Judge Martin may dismiss the
charges against Eddie if he finds that jailers did in fact steal the
documents, although we are not overly optimistic about this prospect.

4) OPENING STATEMENTS
The trial will begin with opening statements early next week. We
do not know exactly when this will happen, but please keep monitoring
the website and checking your email. We desperately need people to be
in court each day to support Eddie Hatcher. We will probably plan a
"Pack the Courtroom" day late next week for supporters to show up en
masse.
If individuals would like to go to the trial on their own, court
begins at 9:30 am every day on the second floor of the Robeson County
Courthouse (500 Elm St., Lumberton).

5) ONE FINAL NOTE:
The Raleigh News & Observer interviewed Eddie Hatcher today, and
the article will probably run in Saturday's paper.

Thank you for your continued support. Please spread the word of
Eddie's case and try to come to the courthouse. This is the most
crucial time ever!

In the struggle,
John Johnson
Eddie Hatcher Defense Committee
jhj@...
919-914-7106