Witness links Butler to deaths

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000 | 9:19 a.m.

A 21-year-old burglar told jurors Tuesday that a murder suspect promised him entry to a racist club if he helped him dispose of evidence left at the murder scene.

John Edward Butler, a member of the Independent Nazi Skinheads group, is accused of shooting to death anti-racist activists Daniel Shersty, 20, and Lin Newborn, 25, on July 4, 1998.

Deputy Special Public Defenders Joseph Sciscento and Brett Whipple told jurors during opening statements that Butler, who is the only one charged in the murders, has an alibi.

If Butler, 28, is convicted, he could receive the death penalty.

On Tuesday, the fourth day of Butler's trial, Joseph Justin told jurors that Butler, who also goes by "Jackie" or "Polar Bear" called him around 7 a.m. the day of the murders.

Butler said he didn't want to talk about it over the phone, but he needed Justin's help. Shortly thereafter, Butler and his girlfriend, Melissa Hack, picked him up and drove him to a desert area west of town, Justin said.

"Jackie said he needed help picking up some mistakes that had gotten left out there the night before," Justin said.

In particular, Butler wanted shotgun shells and a beer bottle with Hack's fingerprints picked up, Justin said.

By helping them, Butler said he would have proven himself and was guaranteed a spot in his "crew," Justin said.

Justin said Butler told him that Hack and a girlfriend had lured the victims out to the desert and he and Hack's brother "ambushed" them.

Justin testified he gave police several different statements before telling them in August 1999 that Butler was the one who committed the murders. It was around that same time that he entered a plea agreement in a burglary case that resulted in probation.

Yes, Justin told Sciscento, he did tell police repeatedly that Butler cleaned up the scene for his girlfriend's brother.

Also testifying Tuesday were two former cellmates of Butler, who testified that Butler confessed the murders to them.

One of the inmates gave details of the weapons used in the slayings, although those details were never released to the public. He also testified Butler told him that Shersty died while standing near the bumper of his car and Newborn was shot while he was trying to get away. Again, those details were never released.

The other former inmate testified that he struggled with whether he should come forward with the information for several months.

Finally, he said, he decided it was "my place as a human being," to do so.

The state was expected to wrap up its side of the case this morning.