Police familiar with accused killer

Kim Smith

Monday, Dec. 11, 2000 | 11:22 a.m.

Jurors in the capital murder trial of an admitted racist accused of killing two men in July 1998 got a brief glimpse into his world Friday.

John Edward Butler, 28, is accused of ambushing and killing Daniel Shersty, 20, and Lin Newborn, 25, in the desert west of Las Vegas on July 4, 1998.

Police believe that Butler, a member of the Independent Nazi Skinheads group, killed the men because they were members of the Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP).

Defense attorneys contend they have 13 alibi witnesses for Butler and an acquaintance of Butler's committed the murders.

On Friday Greg Damarin, a former Metro gang officer, told jurors that skinheads are a group of individuals who prefer shaved heads and often wear red suspenders, combat boots and bomber-style jackets.

The racist skinheads' sole purpose is to preserve the white race and believe that any white person who associates with a person of another race is a "race traitor," Damarin said.

SHARPs, on the other hand, promote unity among the races. In fact, Newborn, who was black, and Shersty, who was white, were the best of friends.

If someone doesn't know a skinhead personally, Damarin said buttons and patches can sometimes identify if they are anti-racist or racist.

Butler, Damarin said, was considered the most influential person among the Independent Nazi Skinheads group or the INS around the time of the murders.

Damarin said that between 1995 and 1998 he had spoken with Butler about 30 times, the final time was on July 14, 1998, when he arrested him for the murders.

During one of those contacts, Damarin said Butler told him about getting into a physical confrontation with some SHARPs, although he did not name them.

Under cross-examination, Damarin said another racist skinhead group in Las Vegas, the Hammer skins, are known for being more violent than the INS.

Defense attorneys have said the man they believe committed the murders had ties with the Hammer skins.

The trial was expected to continue this afternoon before District Judge Michael Douglas.