'Klansman' gets three life terms

Published on Saturday 25 August 2007 01:13

A REPUTED Ku Klux Klansman was sentenced yesterday to three life terms in prison for his role in the 1964 abduction and murder of two black teenagers in south-west Mississippi.

James Ford Seale, 72, was convicted in June on federal charges of kidnapping and conspiracy in the deaths of Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, two 19-year-olds who disappeared on 2 May, 1964. Their bodies were found two months later in the Mississippi River.

Seale showed no emotion as the judge, Henry Wingate, read his sentence.

Mr Wingate told Seale the crimes committed 43 years ago were "horrific" and "justice itself is ageless".

He denied a defence motion to allow Seale to be free on a bond while an appeal is made. The federal public defender, Kathy Nester, said:

"Mr Seale maintains his innocence to this crime."

During the hearing, one of Mr Dee's sisters and Mr Moore's brother talked about how the violent deaths affected them and their families.

"I don't have no hate in my heart but I'm happy for justice," said Mr Dee's sister Thelma Collins of Springfield, Louisiana.

Thomas Moore read from a prepared statement directed at Seale. "I hope you perhaps spend the rest of your natural life in prison thinking of what you did to Charles Moore and Henry Dee and how you ran for a long time but you got caught," he said.

"I hope the spirit of Charles and Henry come to your cell every night and visit with you to teach you what it meant by love of your fellow man."

Both of them stood about ten feet from Seale, but he did not make eye contact with them.