Warren Jeffs breaks silence in court to defend polygamy

[ej510]

(CBS/AP) SAN ANGELO, Texas - Warren Jeffs' sexual assault trial got off to a frenzied start Thursday, largely because the polygamist sect leader insisted on representing himself, then sitting mute and seemingly oblivious to everything going on in the court around him. On Friday, however, Jeffs launched into a defense of polygamy.

After Jeffs declined to make an opening statement, prosecutors sped through their case on the trial's first day, calling five witnesses. They also told jurors they have an audio recording of the 55-year-old defendant raping a 12-year-old girl and DNA evidence showing he impregnated a 15-year-old.

But the ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints broke his silence Friday by objecting to an FBI FBI agent's testimony about records seized at his church's compound during a 2008 raid. Jeffs then talked for nearly an hour.

Jeffs said his church has practiced five generations of polygamy as ordered by God, a higher power than U.S. courts.

Jeffs ended by saying "amen," then repeatedly interrupted a prosecutor's response.

Judge Barbara Walther ordered Jeffs to follow legal procedure, then dismissed the jury and called a recess.

Read more at the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20085551-504083.html

[WinkyDink]

1. Child-rape is the charge, Jeffsy.

[distantearlywarning]

9. +1

[shanti]

2. oh man

his eyes really creep me out! they're so empty.

[KansDem]

3. Put this man in a west-Texas cell and keep him there...

Jeffs, go to the Hell of your own God's creation...

[uppityperson]

4. Thanks for the update.

Seems it is rights of children week here on Du while we wait

[Jefferson23]

5. Hopefully his tactics of representing himself will not result in a mistrial.

What a creepy vile man.


snip* Walther was wary, saying, "you have assembled one of the most impressive legal teams this court has ever seen and perhaps ever seen in the state of Texas...I urge you not to follow this course of action."


Jeffs has burned through at least seven attorneys since December. Walther said Thursday that "your request for additional time can only be considered as an attempt to further delay these proceedings and manipulate this court."


"Mr. Jeffs, the court is not going to recess these proceedings to let you go to law school," she said

[Hubert Flottz]

6. But he was just home schooling those young ladies...

He taught the sex education classes at his home school.

The taxpayers shouldn't even be forced to pay for a trial for that piece of shit. Jail is too good for that scumbag.

If God is on Jeffro's side, then God must have back slid.

[saras]

7. They should convict both him and his God of child rape

That would put an end to people claiming God as a justification for all sorts of inappropriate behavior.

On a lighter note, such as is possible, it does remind me of the comedian who looked out on his Las Vegas audience and said something like "it's good to see you all, and so nice that you all brought your granddaughters to see the show."

Why is it that rapists get so much more support for using the court reporting system to spread their views than, say, the Chicago Seven?

[MelissaB]

8. I live here in San Angelo, and here are some local articles:

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jul/28/jeffs-silent-as-case-is-built-against-him-say-of/

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jul/29/jeffs-delivers-55-minute-objection-speech/