Makah Whalers Convicted

GENERAL NEWS 

By Tom Banse

Olympia, WA  April 8, 2008 9:32 a.m.

The leaders of a group of rogue whalers from the Makah Tribe have been convicted of shooting and killing a gray whale.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports on the federal court case.   

Tribal whalers Wayne Johnson and Andy Noel waived their right to a jury trial.  Instead the judge was handed an undisputed statement of the facts.  It described the unauthorized whale hunt near Neah Bay last September.  Defense attorney Jack Fiander says there was no point in staging a drawn out trial.

 Fiander: "It’s just a polite way of saying, 'Go ahead and find us guilty, your honor, so that we can get on with an appeal.'"

The judge wasted no time.  He found the pair guilty of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a misdemeanor.  

Sentencing takes place in June.  The grounds for appeal include that the court denied a defense based on the cultural or religious significance of whaling to the Makah.  A parallel tribal court prosecution has been on hold during the federal proceedings. 

Share this article: del.icio.us digg newsvine

© 2008 KPLU