Well guys, duck if you didn't see it coming.
Daughter of man accused in hunter slayings says he is great person
Associated Press
Published Monday, November 29, 2004
MILWAUKEE - The eldest daughter of a Minnesota man accused of killing six hunters in northwestern Wisconsin calls him a great person who loves his family very much.
"I don't know what to say but the truth will eventually come out either one way or another," Kia Vang said at news conference Sunday with her father's three new lawyers.
Her father, Chai Vang, 36, is accused of shooting eight deer hunters in Sawyer County Nov. 21 _ killing six and injuring two _ after a dispute involving a tree stand on private land.
Chai Vang, a Hmong immigrant from St. Paul, told authorities the hunters surrounded him and used racial slurs before one fired a shot at him. One of the survivors said Vang fired the first shot.
Vang remained in the Sawyer County Jail Sunday in lieu of $2.5 million bail. He was expected to be charged Monday; an initial appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.
Kia Vang said she has not spoken to her father since the incident. She also offered her condolences to the families of the hunters.
"All of our families are facing hardships at this time and we all have questions that, you know, need answers," she said.
Vang has retained three lawyers, two of whom have previously represented high-profile clients.
Jonathan Smith helped represent former Green Bay Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who was acquitted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2001. His partner, Steven Kohn, represented Christopher Scarver, who killed serial killer Jeffery Dahmer 10 years ago at Columbia Correctional Institution.
Vang's third attorney, James Mentkowski, has represented many Hmong clients and has been involved with a church-based program in Milwaukee that helps Hmong immigrant families adapt to American culture.
Vang had a public defender until the lawyers were hired Wednesday, Kohn said.
Kohn and Mentkowski visited Vang for two hours on Thanksgiving Day, Kohn said. He would not say how the lawyers were retained, but he said they did not approach Vang's family themselves.
Mentkowski said Hmong community leaders asked him to express their condolences to the families involved and the entire Wisconsin hunting community.
"The Hmong community recognizes the special place that the deer hunt holds in our culture," he said. "They recognize these regrettable incidents have cast a pallor to some degree over the entire hunt."
The Hmong community loved and respected Vang as much as the Rice Lake community loved the other hunters involved, Mentkowski said.
"There are many questions within the Hmong community as to how an individual as respected and loved as Mr. Vang ... found himself in a situation that caused him to respond in the way he did," Mentkowski said.
Funerals for four of the six victims, from the Rice Lake area, have already been held. Mark Roidt's funeral was held Friday outside of Rice Lake and the funerals for Robert Crotteau and his son Joseph, and Allan Laski were held Saturday.
Funerals for Dennis Drew and Jessica Willers were planned Monday.
Willers' father Terry Willers was released from the hospital Wednesday after suffering gunshot wounds to the neck and shoulder in the shooting spree. Lauren Hesebeck was released from the hospital Tuesday after treatment of his wounds.
Kohn said they were still deciding on the approach for Vang's defense, but were considering a factual defense and a mental health defense.
"While we certainly are making no judgment or jumping to any conclusions ... this certainly doesn't seem to be a who done it. It seems to be a why done it," he said.
Kohn said he hopes Vang can get a fair trial in Sawyer County but would consider trying to get a change of venue.
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=76670§ion=news
Daughter of man accused in hunter slayings says he is great person
Associated Press
Published Monday, November 29, 2004
MILWAUKEE - The eldest daughter of a Minnesota man accused of killing six hunters in northwestern Wisconsin calls him a great person who loves his family very much.
"I don't know what to say but the truth will eventually come out either one way or another," Kia Vang said at news conference Sunday with her father's three new lawyers.
Her father, Chai Vang, 36, is accused of shooting eight deer hunters in Sawyer County Nov. 21 _ killing six and injuring two _ after a dispute involving a tree stand on private land.
Chai Vang, a Hmong immigrant from St. Paul, told authorities the hunters surrounded him and used racial slurs before one fired a shot at him. One of the survivors said Vang fired the first shot.
Vang remained in the Sawyer County Jail Sunday in lieu of $2.5 million bail. He was expected to be charged Monday; an initial appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.
Kia Vang said she has not spoken to her father since the incident. She also offered her condolences to the families of the hunters.
"All of our families are facing hardships at this time and we all have questions that, you know, need answers," she said.
Vang has retained three lawyers, two of whom have previously represented high-profile clients.
Jonathan Smith helped represent former Green Bay Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who was acquitted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2001. His partner, Steven Kohn, represented Christopher Scarver, who killed serial killer Jeffery Dahmer 10 years ago at Columbia Correctional Institution.
Vang's third attorney, James Mentkowski, has represented many Hmong clients and has been involved with a church-based program in Milwaukee that helps Hmong immigrant families adapt to American culture.
Vang had a public defender until the lawyers were hired Wednesday, Kohn said.
Kohn and Mentkowski visited Vang for two hours on Thanksgiving Day, Kohn said. He would not say how the lawyers were retained, but he said they did not approach Vang's family themselves.
Mentkowski said Hmong community leaders asked him to express their condolences to the families involved and the entire Wisconsin hunting community.
"The Hmong community recognizes the special place that the deer hunt holds in our culture," he said. "They recognize these regrettable incidents have cast a pallor to some degree over the entire hunt."
The Hmong community loved and respected Vang as much as the Rice Lake community loved the other hunters involved, Mentkowski said.
"There are many questions within the Hmong community as to how an individual as respected and loved as Mr. Vang ... found himself in a situation that caused him to respond in the way he did," Mentkowski said.
Funerals for four of the six victims, from the Rice Lake area, have already been held. Mark Roidt's funeral was held Friday outside of Rice Lake and the funerals for Robert Crotteau and his son Joseph, and Allan Laski were held Saturday.
Funerals for Dennis Drew and Jessica Willers were planned Monday.
Willers' father Terry Willers was released from the hospital Wednesday after suffering gunshot wounds to the neck and shoulder in the shooting spree. Lauren Hesebeck was released from the hospital Tuesday after treatment of his wounds.
Kohn said they were still deciding on the approach for Vang's defense, but were considering a factual defense and a mental health defense.
"While we certainly are making no judgment or jumping to any conclusions ... this certainly doesn't seem to be a who done it. It seems to be a why done it," he said.
Kohn said he hopes Vang can get a fair trial in Sawyer County but would consider trying to get a change of venue.
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=76670§ion=news
