Jurors Return To Jeffs Case
Polygamist Leader Faces Rape Charges
POSTED: 10:29 am PDT September 24,
2007
UPDATED: 10:44 am PDT September 24,
2007
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Deliberations continue in the case against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs Monday. The case was handed to jurors Friday afternoon and they suspended talks a few hours later.Jeffs is charged with rape as an accomplice. He is being accused of marrying a then 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin.Prosecutors said Jeffs commanded the girl's obedience and submission when she did not want to engage in sexual relations with her cousin.Jeff's attorney said his client is being unfairly targeted for his religious beliefs.
"Again I say to you, Warren Jeffs is teaching the Gospel," attorney Walter Budgen said. "You need to understand, you may not agree with this religion but he is the prophet of a religion. He sincerely, earnestly, believes that marriage by revelation for example. He's not the only one who believes in that. The prophets before him believed in that this is what he believes in."If convicted, Jeffs could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Copyright 2006 by KVVU.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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